A man threatened to shoot a woman and held her and a child at gunpoint during a violent altercation in Minneapolis on June 6, 2026.
Police responded to a report of a shooting at a home on the 3900 block of Lyndale Avenue.
John Mason Jr., of Minneapolis, faces multiple charges including two counts of 2nd-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, two counts of possessing ammunition or a firearm after being convicted of a violent crime and one count of reckless discharge of a firearm within a municipality.
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According to the complaint, the incident began when the victim and her friend attempted to cross the street and were nearly hit by a silver sedan driven by a woman. Mason, who was outside, yelled at the driver, leading to a verbal confrontation. The driver claimed she had a gun and threatened to shoot them. The victim then ran back into the house with the children. Mason remained outside, where he allegedly punched the female driver in the face.
While inside, the victim heard gunshots and believed the driver was shooting at Mason. She called 911 from a bedroom where she was hiding with the children. Mason entered the bedroom, locked the door and threatened to shoot the victim, claiming the victim would no longer have a mother. During this time, he allegedly pistol-whipped another victim and fired a gun twice, with one shot directed towards the second victim.
When police arrived, Mason attempted to hide two handguns behind a washing machine in the basement. Officers executed a search warrant and recovered the firearms, along with cartridge casings and blood evidence in the bedroom. The second victim was found injured with cuts and blood on his forehead.
Mason is currently in custody. A court date has not yet been set.
About This Charge
Minnesota classifies assault by degree under § 609.221 (first), § 609.222 (second), § 609.223 (third), § 609.2231 (fourth) and § 609.224 (fifth). First-degree assault, alleging great bodily harm, carries up to 20 years in prison. The lower degrees range from gross-misdemeanor up to 10-year felony exposure depending on weapon use and harm.
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Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 45 surrounding cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
