Vermont

Tip led to arrest of man accused of shooting Vermont police officer

Published

1 year ago

December 16, 2024

Tip led to arrest of man accused of shooting Vermont police officer

Investigators say a tip led to the arrest Sunday of a man accused of shooting a Vermont police officer on Friday afternoon.

Scott Mason, 38, of St. Johnsbury was taken into custody around 2 a.m. Sunday after he was located inside a residence at 251 Portland St. in St. Johnsbury, the house next door to the location where St. Johnsbury police Capt. Jason Gray was shot and seriously injured on Friday afternoon.

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Vermont State Police Maj. David Petersen said tips from the community were “integral to the investigation.” In particular, one tip that pointed investigators to the home next door to where Mason lived, which is where he was ultimately apprehended 32 hours after the shooting occurred.

Watch Sunday’s full press conference below:

“Late in the evening Saturday night, we had a tip about a possible location of where Mason was located on Portland Street. We had detectives with the Criminal Division interview this individual, which led to the issuance of a search warrant,” Petersen said. “Coinciding with that, we had members of our Tactical Services Unit respond and secure the perimeter.”

He said police were able to draw out a number of people from inside the property, who were interviewed by police. The Tactical Services Unit then used technology and other means to investigate what was inside the residence.

After that, police prepared to deploy a K9 unit to enter the residence. Warnings were given, and once those warnings were announced and the dog started barking, Mason announced his presence and came out.

“He was confrontational, he damaged some equipment of Vermont State Police,” Petersen said. “We had to use control and restraint techniques to secure him.”

State police said weapons were recovered, though they have not confirmed that any of them were the one that was used to shoot Gray.

Mason was initially brought to state police barracks in St. Johnsbury and later to the hospital for a medical evaluation. He was then returned to the barracks and brought to jail on the arrest warrant, where he was held without bail pending his arraignment at 1 p.m. Monday in Vermont Superior Court in St. Johnsbury.

Authorities said it is too early to say if anyone else could face charges in conjunction with the investigation.

The town of St. Johnsbury and the FBI had each offered $25,000 rewards for information leading to Mason’s arrest. State police said no reward money has been handed out yet, and it will ultimately be up to those agencies to decide whether anyone receives that money.

St. Johnsbury Police Chief Joel Pierce said Sunday that Gray is hospitalized in stable condition and continues to receive treatment. He noted that Gray was wearing a vest at the time of the shooting.

“He’s still sedated, intubated, chest tubes… He’s still got a lot going on,” Pierce said. “We’re hoping he’ll make a recovery. They’re still in the very beginning stages of that whole process, making sure he’s OK.”

“I also do want to say too that his family does feel the support of the community,” he said. “Hopefully, he’ll see it too.”

State police said this is the first time Vermont has put out a Blue Alert since the system was put in place in 2019. It is designed to spread information to the public when a law enforcement officer has been seriously injured, killed or gone missing in the line of duty, and if suspects involved have fled or continue to be a threat.

The alert went out to law enforcement agencies across New England, though state police said the search was mostly focused on Vermont, New Hampshire and New York.

Petersen also addressed the fact that Mason was ultimately found in the home next door to where he lived, saying investigators searched that property on multiple occasions throughout their investigation. He said they searched it right after the scene was cleared Friday and multiple times on Saturday as well.

“At this point I can’t conjecture about whether he was there or not the whole time,” he said. “But I can tell you that our resources were in that property multiple times before he was apprehended.”

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Vermont

Magnificent 7: Must-See, Must-Do Events in and Around Vermont, April 8-15 | Seven Days

Published

6 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Magnificent 7: Must-See, Must-Do Events in and Around Vermont, April 8-15 | Seven Days

Perfectly Seasoned

Sunday 12

You know TV personality Alton Brown as the quirky host of hit reality cooking shows such as “Iron Chef America” and “Cutthroat Kitchen.” Now the culinary commentator and author takes the stage solo at Rutland’s Paramount Theatre for a no-frills show of his talents, trading the glitz and glamour of Hollywood for a more intimate showcase of food science, humor and heart.

Girl Almighty

Friday 10

Diana Whitney Credit: Courtesy of Beowulf Sheehan

Queer author and educator Diana Whitney launches her patriarchy-smashing poetry collection, Girl Trouble, in conversation with fellow writer Eve Alexandra at Next Stage Arts in Putney. Listeners hear unflinching takes on growing up female, adolescent trauma, rape culture and modern movements of resilience before roaring onto the dance floor to channel the grit and grace of feminism.

Fun Facts

Thursday 9

It’s no surprise that we stan Local News Day (see page 13). Journalism leaders and advocates fill Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard Library for a fact-forward fête celebrating the value of civic transparency and trusted community information. A documentary screening and a panel discussion explore media ecosystems and spur dialogue about how to sustain an essential public resource.

Role Models

Saturday 11

Scale model makers and Lego lovers connect at CAN-AM Con at Williston’s National Guard Armory, where seminars and vendors complement a display contest honoring late Japanese producer Shunsaku Tamiya. Junior builders and veterans show off their finest constructions from any Tamiya kit for consideration in categories such as Best of Class and People’s Choice.

Saturday 11

Disco Inferno

The Current — Stowe’s center for contemporary art — invites philanthropic partygoers to the Lodge at Spruce Peak for Gala ’54: After Hours. The annual fundraiser boasts silent and live auctions, a cocktail reception, and chef-crafted food stations, all inspired by New York City’s glamorous Studio 54 era. Then revelers hit the dance floor to boogie oogie oogie in their flashiest disco dress.

See gallery listing at sevendaysvt.com/art

Piste de Résistance

Saturday 11 & Sunday 12

Music and winter culture festival Gather Outdoors takes Stratton Mountain Resort by storm with a superlative lineup of jam bands and electronic artists, including Philadelphia legends the Disco Biscuits and rising star Karina Rykman. The high-energy mountainside affair fuses plein air recreation with an immersive club atmosphere for an unforgettable end to the ski season.

Reading the Room

Tuesday 14

Vermont poet laureate Bianca Stone continues her “State of Poetry” tour with a stop at Phoenix Books in Burlington. Stone leads an analytical deep dive into the craft of late Nobel Prize-winning writer — and the nation’s 12th poet laureate — Louise Glück, underscoring the vital cultural impact of her contributions to American literature.

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Vermont

Aly Richards announces run for Vt. governor

Published

18 hours ago

April 6, 2026

Press Room

Aly Richards announces run for Vt. governor

NEWBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – A new face joins the race for Vermont governor.

Aly Richards, the former CEO of Lets Grow Kids, will hold her campaign announcement on Monday morning.

Richards has spent the last decade advocating for affordable child care in Vermont, including pushing for the state’s landmark child care law.

Richards’ campaign announcement will take place in her hometown of Newbury at 11 a.m.

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Vermont

Vermont ends cold weather hotel assistance for 160 households

Published

1 day ago

April 5, 2026

Press Room

Vermont ends cold weather hotel assistance for 160 households

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – About 160 households will no longer receive hotel rooms following the end of cold weather rules for the state’s General Assistance program this week.

Anti-homeless advocates said last year the federal government authorized Vermont to use state Medicaid funds for a program that could supplement rent for people at risk of homelessness.

State leaders this week said that is not an option as Vermont is still building the program.

Vermont Human Services Secretary Jenney Samuelson said at a press conference this week the waiver gives the authority, not the funding or infrastructure to build the program.

“The state would need to put up significant investments including enrolling housing providers, landlords, developing and building IT systems,” Samuelson said. “These steps require significant time and resources.”

The state legislature and Governor Scott’s administration have been trying to wind down the use of hotels and instead ramp up shelters to get people back on their feet.

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