A man shot and wounded by agents with the state Attorney General’s Office at a Downtown bus station is charged with attempted homicide in connection with the fight that sparked the shooting — a fight that allegedly stemmed from photos taken during the bus trip.
Rayshon Mason, 32, is also charged with aggravated assault.
The incident happened about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday at the Greyhound bus station on 11th Street. Agents with the AG’s office and other law enforcement officers were already at the bus station as part of a drug trafficking task force.
The fight broke out as passengers, including Mr. Mason, got off a Greyhound that had just arrived at the terminal. Pittsburgh police detectives pieced together the series of events from security camera footage and accounts from witnesses, including the man who was cut and the two agents who opened fire.
According to a criminal complaint, Mr. Mason and another man began fighting just outside of the bus doors. The altercation spilled over to in front of the bus as other passengers tried to pull Mr. Mason off of the other man.
The grappling continued until the other man stands up and delivers several kicks to Mr. Mason, at which point he began to walk away. Police said the security video shows Mr. Mason then got up and appeared to be holding something in his right hand, and the other man begins backing up until he’s up against the glass window of the bus station.
Police said the footage shows Mr. Mason taking several stabs at the other man while a third person tries to intervene. Two state agents, at that point, drew their weapons and shot Mr. Mason. Police said he was shot in the chest and stomach, though they did not specify how many times officers fired nor how many times Mr. Mason was hit.
The other man involved in the altercation said issues arose during the bus trip when Mr. Mason was “taking pictures of his family,” according to the complaint. When they disembarked, Mr. Mason confronted the other man, and the confrontation became physical when Mr. Mason bear-hugged the other man.
The man was not stabbed but struck his head on the pavement. He was treated and released a short time later.
Pittsburgh police are investigating the use of force by the state agents, who told Pittsburgh detectives they’d announced themselves and ordered Mr. Mason to drop the knife.
Investigators said they couldn’t determine where Mr. Mason was from, and records show he’s faced no prior criminal charges in Pennsylvania.
A preliminary hearing has not been scheduled.
First Published: December 11, 2023, 10:29 p.m.