United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia
06/29/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/29/2026 11:47
D.C. Man Pleads Guilty to Chinatown Murder, Shooting at Police
WASHINGTON - Jaykell Mason, 26, of the District of Columbia, pleaded guilty last week in connection with a February 2020 deadly shooting and subsequent police chase that occurred in Northwest Washington, D.C., announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.
Mason pleaded guilty June 26, 2026, to second-degree murder while armed and assault on a police officer while armed. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 2, 2026, before Judge Jason Park.
The government's evidence indicates that on the evening of Feb. 13, 2020, the defendant, Jaykell Mason, approached Terence Dantzler, in the 700 block of 8th Street NW. The two spoke briefly and then Mason raised a firearm to Dantzler's head and fired once, striking Dantzler, who then fell to the ground. Mason then fired two more rounds into the Dantzler's body before fleeing on foot.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department intercepted Mason in the 1000 block of H Street NW. Mason fired upon the officers, who then returned fire, striking Mason in the hand. He was apprehended shortly thereafter.
Dantzler was transported to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries.
Joining U.S. Attorney Pirro in the announcement was Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll of the Metropolitan Police Department.
This case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wes Faulkner, Jr. and Peter Roman.
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United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia published this content on June 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 29, 2026 at 17:47 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]