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- Tip leads to arrest in cold case killing of off-duty D.C. cop (newsbreak.com)
**Breakthrough in 2017 Cold Case: Arrest Made in the Killing of Off-Duty D.C. Officer**
BALTIMORE – In a significant development, Baltimore law enforcement officials announced the arrest of a suspect in the 2017 cold case homicide of an off-duty Washington, D.C., police officer. Dion Thompson, 24, has been charged with the fatal shooting of Sgt. Tony Anthony Mason Jr., a 17-year veteran of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, bringing long-awaited progress to a case that shocked and saddened the community.
According to prosecutors, Thompson, alleged to have been the leader of a gang known as “The Slickest Ones” (TSO), targeted a parked car in an act driven by paranoia. It was only after the fatal shooting that Thompson realized his victim was a police officer. The incident, which took place over five years ago, had left law enforcement scrambling for leads, despite a $20,000 reward being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Sgt. Mason, 40 at the time of his death, was remembered as a dedicated officer and a committed member of the force, leaving a profound void in both his family and the police community. The abrupt end to his life and career stirred a relentless pursuit of justice by fellow officers and investigators.
Thompson’s apprehension is the result of determined investigative work, piecing together evidence that had once seemed elusive. Charging documents indicate that Thompson did not act alone on the night of the murder; he had collaborated with accomplices to carry out the shooting, further complicating the case.
The announcement of Thompson’s arrest marks a pivotal moment in the investigation, offering a semblance of closure to those who knew and admired Sgt. Mason. While the news brings some comfort to the grieving, law enforcement officials stress that the pursuit of justice is far from over, with efforts to apprehend and prosecute any remaining accomplices still underway.
This case underscores the dangers that police officers face, both on and off duty, and highlights the persistence of law enforcement to solve crimes and seek justice, no matter how much time has passed.
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- Tip leads to arrest in cold case killing of off-duty D.C. cop (newsbreak.com)