In a quiet home in the Park DuValle neighborhood of Louisville, Kentucky, a grim discovery was made on a summer day in 2016. Inside, three men were found dead, their lives cut short by violence. One of these men was John Bailey, a 37-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland. Alongside him were 40-year-old Larry Thomas, also from Baltimore, and 44-year-old Michael Bass Sr., who resided at the home on Louis Coleman Jr. Drive where the tragedy unfolded.
The incident, which occurred on June 25, 2016, was investigated by the Louisville Metro Police Department as a triple homicide.
The investigation into the deaths of Bailey, Thomas, and Bass moved swiftly, and within a couple of days, an arrest was made. Police took 31-year-old William Mason Jr. into custody in connection with the killings. While a motive for the shootings was not immediately released to the public, investigators did state that they had ruled out gang activity or domestic issues as the cause. The relationship between Mason and the three victims was described as that of associates and friends who shared at least one mutual acquaintance.
William Mason Jr. was subsequently charged with three counts of murder for the deaths of John Bailey, Larry Thomas, and Michael Bass Sr. His criminal history, which included prior involvement with drugs and firearms, was noted at the time of his arrest. The community was left to grapple with the reality of such violence occurring in their midst, as a neighbor and local pastor expressed the sentiment that no one is exempt from such tragic events. The case then prepared to move through the judicial system, with Mason scheduled for his initial court appearance to face the charges brought against him.
