Imagine a quiet winter evening in a small Vermont town where the snowcovered streets hide dark secrets behind closed doors. On December 13th, 2024, what started as a routine domestic assault turns into a nightmare of gunfire and betrayal. A police captain steps into the unknown only to face a blast that could end his life in an instant. This is the chilling story of Scott Mason. A man with a trail of violence and the split-second decisions that left a community reeling. Scott Mason was no stranger to the shadows of St. Johnsbury, Vermont. At 38 years old, he lived a life entangled in crime, residing in a modest, multi-unit building on Portland Street. Described by authorities as a serial felon and drug dealer, Mason's record painted a picture of escalating danger. He had racked up six prior felony convictions, including aggravated assault, narcotic sales, being an accessory before the fact, and two counts of burglary. Just months before the incident in April 2024, he faced charges for secondderee aggravated domestic assault after allegedly attacking a pregnant woman in what was called a crack rage. Though jailed initially, he was released, allowing tensions to simmer. Captain Jason Gray, on the other hand, was a dedicated officer with the St. Johnsbury Police Department, known for his steady presence in the community. A family man and veteran cop, Gray's life revolved around protecting the very streets where Mason lurked. Little did he know their paths would collide in a hail of pellets. Uh it was Friday, December 13th, 2024, around late afternoon when the call came in. A report of domestic assault at 257 Portland Street in St. Johnsbury. Captain Jason Gray, leading the response, arrived with fellow officers, including Officer Jasmine Hendry. The air was crisp. The town hushed under a blanket of snow. But inside that building, chaos brewed. Gray knocked on the front door of the multi-unit home. No. answer. The door was unlocked, so with caution, he pushed it open and stepped inside. Henry right behind him. They ascended the narrow staircase, hearts pounding in the dim light. At the top, they encountered a woman, the reported victim, later identified as Patrice Mason. She stood just feet away, her face tense, and silently pointed down a hallway. Gray turned, peering into the shadows. In that heartbeat, the world exploded. A deafening shotgun blast. echoed through the hall, pellets ripping into Gray's face and body. Staggered but alive, he retreated behind a door frame as Henry bolted down the stairs for cover and the woman fled the scene. Blood pouring from his wounds, Gray drew his service pistol, steadying himself against the pain. He leaned out to spot the shooter. Another blast, more pellets tearing into him. In the same frantic moment, Gray fired one desperate shot down the hallway, missing his asalent buying precious seconds. He collapsed to the floor, vision blurring, pain searing. Through the haze, he saw his attacker, Scott Mason, shotgun in hand, advancing with fury in his eyes. The St. Johnsbury Police Department mobilized quickly, but the immediate scene was a test of raw survival. Two officers, Gray and Henry, entered the building with others securing the perimeter outside. No high-tech tactics here. It was old school police work, knocking and entering based on probable cause for a welfare check. The close calls were visceral gray, hit twice at point blank range, somehow mustered the strength to return fire and stagger downstairs. Henry, exposed and unarmed in the moment, raced back to assist, dragging her wounded captain to their cruiser. She drove him straight to Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital. Sirens wailing through the snowy streets, Gray was later airlifted to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, where surgeons battled to save his life from extensive injuries. Pellets embedded in his face, causing double vision, nerve damage, scars, and an impaired voice box. The department's decision to enter without backup in the hallway proved fateful, but investigators later deemed Gray's use of force justified. A split-second choice in the face of death. Mason didn't stick around to face the consequences, yelling, "Get the eag split out at the fallen gray." He fled through a second floor window, vanishing into the night. A two-day manhunt ensued, gripping the town in fear. Authorities issued a blue alert warning residents to lock doors and check surveillance cams. Rewards totaled 50,000 25,000 each from the FBI and the town of St. Johnsbury for tips leading to his capture. Early on December 15th, police converged on the house next door, 251 Portland Street, armed with a search warrant. There, hidden away, they found Mason and took him into custody without further incident. The charges came swiftly and severely attempted first-degree murder, a felony carrying up to life in prison. Aggravated assault on a police officer resulting in serious bodily injury felony, possessing a firearm after a prior violent felony conviction felony. Carrying a deadly weapon while committing a felony felony and unlawful mischief, likely a misdemeanor for property damage. In layman's terms, Mason was accused of trying to kill a cop, attacking him viciously, illegally owning the shotgun due to his criminal past, using it in the crime, and causing general havoc. If convicted on the top charge alone, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars, a stark penalty reflecting the gravity of ambushing law enforcement. As of October 2025, Scott Mason remains in custody, held without bail after pleading not guilty to all charges in a tense courtroom appearance on December 16th, 2024. The case has dragged on with no trial date set publicly, leaving the community in limbo. Prosecutors have built a strong case bolstered by body camera footage released in September 2025, which captured the harrowing ambush in graphic detail. In a separate review, the Vermont Attorney General's Office cleared Captain Gray of any wrongdoing in September 2025, affirming his actions as self-defense. Courtroom drama has simmered with debates over Mason's mental state and prior releases from custody, but no sentencing has occurred. If the trial proceeds, expect heated arguments over his history of violence. For now, the outcome is unknown. A waiting game in the halls of justice. The shooting sent shock waves through St. Johnsbury, a tight-knit town unaccustomed to such violence. Residents hunkered down during the manhunt, sharing tips on social media and expressing outrage online. Post flooded ex with calls to lock your doors and prayers for Gray. Headlines screamed across Vermont media. Suspect on the run after shooting cop from VT Digger. Manh hunt grips town on WCAX. Debates raged about lenient sentencing for repeat offenders with some blaming the system for Mason's prior release. Support poured in for fundraisers raised thousands for his recovery and blue ribbons adorned porches. Online, controversy swirled around the domestic victim, Patrice Mason, who faced charges for aiding the fugitive, sparking whispers of betrayal. Nationally, the story highlighted police dangers, drawing sympathy, but also scrutiny of entry tactics. The community remains divided gratitude for law enforcement mixed with calls for reform. This case is riddled with twists that defy belief. The domestic assault victim, Patrice Mason, turned out to be one of six accompllices charged with helping Scott evade capture. Five arrested in January 2025, including Jonathan and Tissa Russell, William Drew, and Tracy Larie, plus a sixth lady. Patrice faced extra counts for negligent gun storage, suggesting the shotgun was hers, a disputed claim that muddies the narrative unverified reports hint at family ties. Body camera footage released September 26, 2025 by the Caledonian Record went viral, showing the raw terror and Gray's resilience. Viewers called it heart-wrenching. Gray retired in April 2025 due to lingering injuries, a quiet end to a heroic career. Strangely, Mason hid next door the whole time, raising questions about overlooked leads. Six others pleaded not guilty, adding layers of conspiracy to the small town saga. In the end, a single unlocked door unleashed a storm of violence that forever scarred a town and its guardians. Scott Mason sits in a cell, his fate hanging by a thread, while Captain Gray carries the weight of survival. But in the quiet nights of St. Johnsbury, one question lingers like a shadow. How many more doors hide monsters waiting to strike? Stay vigilant because the next call could be the one that changes everything.