St. Johnsbury Police Captain Shot in Domestic Assault Investigation

On December 13, 2024, St. Johnsbury Police Captain was investigating an alleged domestic assault at the home of the suspect, 38-year-old Scott Mason, with fellow officers from the St. Johnsbury Police Department. On arrival, Captain Gray knocked on the front door of the multi-unit building where the suspect resided. Finding the door unlocked with no one answering, Captain Gray entered the building alongside fellow officer Jasmine Hendry. Inside the building, Captain Gray began walking up a flight of stairs, followed by Officer Hendry, when he encountered a woman who was the reported domestic assault victim. While standing just feet away from Captain Gray, the woman pointed down a hallway which Captain Gray turned towards. Seconds later, a gunshot sounded, and a round of pellet shot hit Captain Gray. Officer Hendry ran back down the stairs, and the woman ran out of the hallway. Captain Gray then retreated behind a doorframe, drew his firearm, and peered down the hallway to locate the shooter when a second round of pellet shot hit Captain Gray. Simultaneously, during this second round of pellet shots, Captain Gray discharged one bullet from his firearm in the direction of the shooter, but it did not strike the shooter or any other person.

Captain Gray then collapsed from his pellet shot injuries. While on the floor, Captain Gray saw Scott Mason, who was carrying a shotgun. Scott Mason approached Captain Gray and yelled, “get the [expletive] out,” before fleeing the house through a second-floor window. After the shots, Officer Hendry drove Captain Gray by police car to Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. Captain Gray was later transported to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment of his extensive, but non-fatal injuries. Mason was arrested two days later and charged with multiple crimes including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault on a police officer, possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a violent offense, carrying a deadly weapon while committing a felony, and unlawful mischief. Gray, meanwhile, was discharged from the hospital on Dec. 19, 2024.