Devin Shawn Mason Sr., known affectionately to friends and family as “Face,” was a 45-year-old father working to build a brighter future when his life was tragically cut short. His loved ones remembered him as a caring man who loved deeply and was not defined by his personal battles. Though he had struggled with drug addiction, Devin was actively making efforts to overcome his challenges and get his life back on track.
His great-aunt recalled that he was "a beautiful person" who was winning his battle with his demons. She said, "Face loved hard, and he gave people their flowers while they could smell them." Devin, a Male, leaves behind a beloved son, Devin Jr., three brothers, and a large extended family who will forever cherish his memory.
On the morning of Saturday, October 17, 2026, Devin’s journey of recovery came to a violent end in Capitol Heights, Maryland. According to court records, shortly before the shooting, Devin and another man, later identified as Michael Ritch, had a brief conversation about obtaining marijuana in the parking lot of a JB Convenience Store on Larchmont Avenue. Surveillance video showed the man then enter a Ford Taurus. Minutes later, around 11:35 a.m., in the 5000 block of Emo Street, the same Ford Taurus pulled up. The driver opened his door, fired multiple shots at Devin, and then sped away, turning onto Larchmont Avenue.
Prince George’s County police officers responded to reports of the shooting and found Devin outside, suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders administered life-saving measures and rushed him to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries a short time later. The investigation was immediately taken up by the Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
Detectives moved quickly, utilizing surveillance footage from the convenience store that captured the suspect and the license plate of his Ford Taurus. This evidence led them to identify 29-year-old Michael Ritch of Capitol Heights as the suspect. Just hours after the shooting, at approximately 4:35 p.m., officers located the Taurus at a McDonald’s in Capitol Heights. They arrested Ritch at the scene without incident.
Michael Ritch was charged with first- and second-degree murder, among other offenses. He was ordered held at the Department of Corrections on a no-bond status. In their initial statements, police said the motive for the shooting remained under investigation and that, at the time, there was no evidence to suggest that the suspect and victim knew each other prior to their brief interaction that morning.
In the wake of the tragedy, Devin’s family was left reeling. They set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his funeral and burial expenses. On the page, they wrote, "Devin was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his life was cut short far too soon. No one deserves to have their life taken this way, and Devin deserved the opportunity to continue working toward a brighter future." His great-aunt wrote a message of support to his son on Facebook, promising, "Devin Jr., just know we love you and you are not alone."
As of October 2026, the case against Michael Ritch was proceeding through the court system. The family’s tribute to Devin on his memorial page reads, "Devin, you were loved, your life mattered, and you will never be forgotten. May God welcome you into His loving arms and grant you eternal peace." The Prince George’s County Police Department asked anyone with information about the case to call homicide detectives at 301-516-2512 and refer to case number 26-0055479.
