Three members of a Mahomet family were killed in an attack on the evening of December 18, 2024. The Mahomet Police Department responded to reports of gunfire at a home in the 1100 block of Riverside Drive around 9:41 p.m. and found 61-year-old Janis Mason, her 26-year-old daughter Sara Mason, and her 23-year-old son Caleb Mason with life-threatening gunshot wounds. Sara was pronounced dead at the scene; Janis and Caleb were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana and died after 10 p.m.

Authorities identified 24-year-old John R. Lyons of Westchester as the suspect and said he had a prior connection to Caleb. Court records show Lyons filed a civil suit against Caleb in June 2024 seeking $15,000 to $50,000 in damages. After the Mahomet shootings, Lyons drove to Berwyn, about 120 miles north, where officers encountered him around 11:38 p.m. He fled, forced entry into a home and shot two dogs, then fired on responding officers. Officers returned fire and fatally shot Lyons; no officers were injured.

Neighbors described the neighborhood as usually quiet and held a vigil for the Mason family. Does anyone in the area have information about the victims or the events that night?