On the early morning of April 26, 2026, 19-year-old Cortez CJ Mason Jr. was killed in a shooting in a large parking lot off Powers Boulevard in Colorado Springs. He had been heading home after his second day of work at a local fast-food restaurant and was described as an innocent bystander when gunfire erupted around 12:30 a.m.

Officers found three people struck by gunfire. An adult man and a juvenile girl were taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition; Cortez was pronounced dead at the scene. The El Paso County Coroner’s Office confirmed his identity. His mother, Brandi Howell, has spoken publicly about the silence left by his loss.

The Colorado Springs Police Department has labeled the investigation a high priority and says progress is being made, but has not released information about suspects or arrests. If anyone witnessed the shooting or has information that could help the investigation, please contact the Colorado Springs Police Department.