Dec. 27, 2001 – An investigation into the shooting death of security guard Kenrick Mason entered its second day Thursday with major-crime investigators following several leads uncovered since he was gunned down in the parking lot of Market Square East Shopping Center shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday.
Police suspect the the homicide was a failed robbery attempt. Police Chief Novelle Francis Jr. said a round-the-clock effort continues to identify and apprehend the person or persons responsible.
Mason, 26, "was shot several times and succumbed to his injuries at the scene," Francis said, appealing to anyone in the community with knowledge of the case to contact police.
According to Francis, "Police officers heard the gunshots and responded to the area, where they observed a black male running towards the dense brushy area north of the shopping center." While some officers pursued the suspect, who got away, he said, others attended to Mason.
On Wednesday, Francis reported that police had found a face mask believed to have been used by the suspect and a handgun. It has not been determined whether the weapon was used in the shooting.
A mini-van Mason had been driving had crashed into the curb wall leading down to the shopping center's main entrance. "It's an indication that he tried to escape when the gunfire erupted," one police source said.
Nothing was taken from Cost-U-Less, the store close to the crime scene, police said.
Mason, a Smith Bay resident, was employed by the National Enforcement Security and Strategic Operations (NESSO) security company. He had just started his shift for the day when the shooting occurred, according to police sources.
The homicide is the 15th on St. Thomas and the 27th in the territory this year. In 2000, as of this date, there had been 10 killings on the island and 17 in the territory.
Francis asked anyone with information to contact police at 715-5522 or the police emergency number 911.
