On the night of January 19, 2025, in Fulton, Missouri, 17-year-old Mason Sheets, a white male, was found fatally shot inside a disabled vehicle near the intersection of South Business 54 and Commons Drive. Fulton police officers responded to a call at approximately 11:51 p.m. and discovered Sheets with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A juvenile female who was present at the scene was taken into custody, though authorities have not released details about her involvement due to her age.
Mason was a senior at Fulton High School with a passion for firefighting. He was among the first students accepted into the Fire Fighter Training Program, a collaboration between the high school and the Fulton Fire Department. Those who knew him remembered his kind heart, infectious enthusiasm, and unwavering commitment to his goals. He enjoyed spending his time outdoors camping and fishing with friends.
The investigation into his death was extensive, with the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad being activated to handle the more than 250 leads that were generated. Investigators believe the motive for the shooting was likely related to a transaction involving an illegal substance. Several juvenile persons of interest, who were not from Fulton, were identified, though their names have not been released due to their ages.
A significant lead in the case involved a maroon 2022 Jeep Compass, which was believed to have been used by the perpetrator and had been reported stolen from Columbia on January 13. This vehicle was later found burned at the Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area on January 23. The investigation led to the arrest of Treyvale Cain-Raybon of Columbia, who was charged with hindering the prosecution of a felony after allegedly suggesting in an Instagram group chat that the vehicle should be burned and disposed of in a lake. He was arrested on January 28 and later posted a $3,000 bond.
