Ohio police officer who fatally shot black teen Tyre King helped save life of another boy who tried to hang himself
The Ohio police officer who fatally shot a 13-year-old black boy armed with a BB gun once helped save the life of another African-American child the same age who had tried to hang himself, records show.
The 10-year veteran was honored by the department for "quick actions" that saved a 13-year-old boy who tried to hang himself in 2012. Mason and another officer performed CPR until more help came.
In 2009, Mason was among officers who returned fire on a white man armed with an AK-47 who later killed himself. The suspect fired out of a window at officers after he fled from a traffic stop. Mason earned an award for containing "the violent situation."
There are "some very bad people in this world doing very bad things, and Bryan is not afraid to go out and address those issues to make our community safer," said Jason Pappas, the president of the police union representing Mason.
Mason was immediately placed on administrative leave, but is now back to full duty as the probe into the shooting continues, an official with the Columbus Police Department told the Daily News on Friday.
Police records show that Mason has been involved in other shootings, including another fatality, in which he was cleared of wrongdoing. His other shootings include the 2012 death of a white man holding another white man at gunpoint, and two non-fatal incidents.
Columbus resident Jason Blackburn said Officer Mason shot and killed the man who held him at gunpoint nearly four years ago.
"I have five children," the 45-year-old Blackburn said. "And if it wasn't for him, they wouldn't have a father."