Mingo Mason, a 49-year-old Black man, was inside the La Paloma Candy Store and Grocery on Lexington Avenue in East Harlem on the evening of December 14, 2017. He was engaged in a dispute with two other individuals when another man entered the establishment. That man, later identified as 45-year-old Anthony Pinkston of the Bronx, fired a single shot that struck Mason in the back of the head.
The shooting, captured on the store's surveillance cameras, showed Pinkston walking into the
bodega as Mason was arguing with others and firing the fatal shot. Emergency services were called, and Mason was transported to Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital, but his injury was too severe, and he could not be saved. The incident left the local community in shock, prompting neighbors to gather for a candlelight vigil outside the grocery store to honor Mason's memory. Those who knew him described him as a good man and a wonderful father who was known for his generosity.
Following an investigation, the New York Police Department arrested Anthony Pinkston on December 21, 2017. He was subsequently charged with murder. Pinkston had a history of prior arrests for offenses that included assault, drunk driving, and drug possession. He was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court and held without bail. The motive for the shooting was not immediately made clear by authorities. The evidence from the security footage was considered a crucial element in the legal proceedings against Pinkston.
