Police increase reward to $8K for tips in shooting death

Police say Antonio Mason, 35, died in triple shooting

Antonio Mason

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Gainesville Police Department increased the reward to $8,000 for tips leading to the arrest of the shooters who killed a 35-year-old man at a family gathering at a Gainesville home, authorities said.

Antonio Mason, 35, died on July 27 after suffering gunshot wounds to the chest, Gainesville police said. Mason's 11-month-old daughter, who he was holding at the time, and a second adult man were also shot and are recovering.

Recommended Videos



Gainesville police initially said two men armed with handguns began firing shots from the doorway into the home on Northwest 4th Place, near the University of Florida campus, at 11:40 p.m. Police said they found two different types of shell casings at the scene, which is why they believe there were two gunmen.

Officers were already in the area when multiple 911 calls came in about the shooting. They arrived at the scene in less than a minute. Police said a family was having a get-together and it appeared that more than 20 people were inside the home when the gunfire began. Many people were running away from the home when officers arrived.

A motive for the shooting is unknown, but police said it appears the home was targeted.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 352-372-STOP.