St. Johnsbury Police Captain Justified in Non-Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

The Attorney General's Office today announced the conclusion of its independent review of a non-fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on December 13, 2024, in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Attorney General Charity Clark has declined to prosecute St. Johnsbury Police Department Captain Jason Gray for charges related to the use of potentially deadly force in a shooting involving Scott Mason.

Windham County State's Attorney Steven Brown, acting as conflict counsel on behalf of the Caledonia County State's Attorney's Office, also declined to prosecute the case after completing his own independent review. In reaching their decisions, the Attorney General's Office and the Windham County State's Attorney's Office reviewed all materials provided by Vermont State Police, who conducted the investigation.

The incident began on December 13, 2024, when Captain Gray was investigating an alleged domestic assault at the home of the suspect, 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.

Pursuant to 13 V.S.A. § 2305(3), under the totality of the circumstances, Captain Gray reasonably believed that he was in imminent danger of being killed or suffering great bodily harm and he was, therefore, justified in using deadly force.

Under Vermont law, an officer may use deadly force to repel an imminent threat to cause death or serious bodily injury when the officer objectively and reasonably believes that a person has the present ability, opportunity, and apparent intent to immediately cause death or serious bodily injury. 20 V.S.A. §§ 2368(a)(4) and 2068(c)(1)(A). Furthermore, the use of deadly force is deemed necessary when, given the totality of the circumstances, an objectively reasonable officer in the same situation would conclude that there was no reasonable alternative to the use of deadly force that would prevent death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person. 20 V.S.A. § 2368(c)(2).

Under the totality of these circumstances, both during and leading up to the shooting, an objectively reasonable officer in Captain Gray's position would have concluded that there was no other reasonable alternative than the use of deadly force to prevent his death or serious bodily injury.

The Caledonia State's Attorney's Office has charged Scott Mason with related crimes, including attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer resulting in serious bodily injury, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and carrying a dangerous or deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. T he Attorney General's Office emphasizes that individuals charged with a crime are legally presumed innocent until their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Senior Advisor to the Attorney General, 802-828-3171