The FBI announced on Friday, January 15th, that Myloh Jaqory Mason, one of the agency’s top ten wanted fugitives, had been captured in Thornton, Colorado. The 25 year-old was wanted for his participation in multiple violent bank robberies and two separate shootings in Lakewood, Colorado within the past four months. He had allegedly committed the acts with two accomplices, who are already in custody. “Mason and his gang have committed some of the most violent bank robberies we’ve seen in Colorado,” said Thomas Ravenelle, who is in charge of the FBI’s Denver Division.

“We believe he’s not going to stop and is a real danger to the community.” The FBI had been offering rewards up to ＄100,000 for information leading to Mason’s arrest. Mason and his accomplices committed their first robbery on September 30th, 2015, and were said to have threatened bank employees at gunpoint to open the bank vaults. Their second robbery took place in November at another Lakewood bank, where they again threatened tellers at gunpoint to open the vaults. This time, the three suspects wore green and white skeleton masks similar to those worn in the “Scream” movie franchise, dubbing him as the ‘Scream Robber.’

Mason was also reported to be wearing a ballistic vest during the crime. They were pursued by the police after fleeing, after which Mason and the other two suspects shot two civilians in a home invasion and carjacking. According to Special Agent Russ Humphrey, one of the wounded civilians was shot four times, although neither was killed. Mason was finally captured around 5:30 p.m. on Friday without incident at a Thornton motel near I-25 and 84th Avenue, the FBI reported. He was arrested on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, armed second-degree kidnapping, first-degree assault, and second-degree assault, as well as a federal charge of convicted felon in possession of a ballistic vest.

“The capture of this dangerous felon means our community is safer, because we believe Mason would have continued committing violent crimes while he was on the run,” said Ravenelle. “I thank each of the task force members for their hard work and commitment, as they worked day and night to get him behind bars.”


<Lauren Song, OCSA 10th Grade>