Illinois state policeman shot dead on Dan Ryan: Private Gerald Mason dies from gunshot wound, medical examiner says

CHICAGO (WLS) – An Illinois state soldier died after a Friday afternoon shooting on the inbound Dan Ryan Freeway near 43rd Street.

His death was ruled as suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said on Saturday.

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Illinois State Police said Gerald Mason, 36, was found in his police car in local northbound lanes of I-94 shortly before 2 p.m.

He was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 2:16 p.m. Illinois State Police initially said in a statement Friday that the shooting was “an officer involved “, added however that there was no known threat to the public as the investigation into Mason’s death continued.

A woman was driving on the entering Dan Ryan at around 1:45 p.m. when she saw her car crash into the median, went to help her and found Mason inside. She used her radio to frantically call for help.

State Police said Mason worked for the Chicago District and had been a force veteran for 11 years. ISP said Mason was on duty when he died of a single gunshot wound to the head.

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“A lot of people have called Mason ‘The Hulk’,” said Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly. “He was a strong, strong man. He even ripped his soldier’s pants in a foot chase because of those muscles.”

Witnesses said they saw the police take Mason out of the car and take him to the hospital themselves.

“I know they look like superheroes for many days, but they’re not immortal, they’re not indestructible,” Kelly said. “They are humans with hearts and minds and souls as fragile as the next person. They have a breaking point.”

“Everyone loved him. Everyone loved my son,” said his mother, Linda Mason. “I can’t believe he’s gone.”

She said her son had always wanted to be a police officer. She said she got a call from her youngest son on Friday afternoon as social media chatter about the incident spread, and called Gerald to monitor him. He did not answer, and soon after, she received a call from the hospital.

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“They asked me if I had a son,” she said. “I said yes. They asked me his name, I said ‘Gerald Mason.’ They told me I had to come to college. “

By the time she got there he was dead.

“I don’t know what else to say. I love him. I will miss him so, so, so. My heart hurts so much,” she said. “He always wanted to be a police officer because he always wanted to protect people. He wanted to make the world a better place.”

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Mason’s body was escorted by his colleagues and the Chicago police in a procession, as his family watched and then growled in grief.

Mason’s mother said her eldest son was unmarried and had no children. He leaves behind a large family which he will miss very much.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by sending HOME at 741741. You can reach Trans Lifeline at 877- 565-8860 (US) or 877-330-6366 (Canada) and The Trevor Project at 866-488-7386.