Man sentenced to life for killing DC Metro police sergeant in cold case

A Baltimore judge sentenced Dion Thompson to life plus 33 years for the murder of DC Metro Police Sergeant Tony Mason Jr., a case that took nearly nine years to reach a final conviction and sentencing.

What’s Happening: Thompson was sentenced August 5 in Baltimore City. He was the first defendant indicted by the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office’s newly created Cold Case Homicide Unit.

What’s Important: A surviving victim was present at the sentencing and delivered a victim impact statement. Sgt. Mason was a husband, father, and son who worked as a DC Metro Police officer and was known for mentoring young men in his community.

What We Know: The shooting happened in November 2017 on the 2800 block of Elgin Avenue in Baltimore. Sgt. Mason was off duty and sitting in his vehicle when he was shot and killed. A second person in the car survived. For nearly nine years, no one was held accountable.

A Baltimore jury ultimately convicted Thompson of first-degree murder, along with conspiracy and attempted second-degree murder charges for the non-fatal shooting of the second victim. The conviction came through a joint investigation involving the Baltimore Police Department, the FBI, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Cold Case Homicide Unit Chief Kurt Bjorklund prosecuted the case.

State’s Attorney Ivan J. Bates issued a statement after the sentencing.

“Nearly nine years after Sgt. Tony Mason Jr. was senselessly murdered, justice has finally been served to the man responsible,” Bates said. “While no amount of time can restore the years Sgt. Mason’s family have lost, today’s sentence of Life plus 33 years ensures that Defendant Dion Thompson will spend the rest of his days being held accountable for the devastating choices he made.”

Bates also addressed the surviving victim in his statement.

“I want to recognize the extraordinary courage of the surviving victim in this case, whose strength throughout this prosecution was nothing short of remarkable,” he said. “She endured unimaginable trauma, returned to the courtroom to relive that horrific night, and delivered a powerful victim impact statement that reminded everyone present that the consequences of violent crime do not end when the gunfire stops. Her resilience and unwavering commitment to justice helped ensure that the truth prevailed.”

Catch Up Quick: The Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office launched the Cold Case Homicide Unit to pursue unsolved murder cases. Thompson’s case was the unit’s first indictment.