In the early moments of a Sunday morning, just thirty minutes past midnight on April 26, 2026, the life of 19-year-old Cortez "CJ" Mason Jr. was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The young man, who was on his way home from only his second day of work at a local fast-food restaurant, found himself caught in the crossfire of a shooting that erupted in a large parking lot off of Powers Boulevard.
He was, by all accounts, an innocent bystander in a situation that had nothing to do with him.
When officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department arrived at the chaotic scene, they discovered three individuals who had been struck by gunfire. While an adult man and a juvenile girl were transported to a nearby hospital in stable condition, Cortez, despite the immediate efforts of first responders, succumbed to his injuries at the location. The El Paso County Coroner's Office later confirmed his identity, leaving his loved ones to grapple with an unimaginable loss. His mother, Brandi Howell, has spoken of the profound silence his absence has left in her life, a quiet that is "louder than anything I've ever known."
The investigation into the shooting and subsequent homicide of Cortez Mason Jr. is being treated as a high priority by the Colorado Springs Police Department. While they have indicated that progress is being made in the case, no information regarding any potential suspects or arrests has been made public at this time. The department has issued a plea to the community, urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward and contact them as they continue to seek justice for the young man whose life was so abruptly taken.
