Manhunt Underway for Minneapolis Murder Suspect Mistakenly Released from Indianapolis Jail

A manhunt is currently underway for Kevin L. Mason, a murder suspect from Minneapolis, who was mistakenly released from a county jail in Indianapolis last week. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced that a staff member at the local detention center erroneously released Mason on September 13 due to a faulty records review. This incident prompted an internal investigation, resulting in the termination of two employees.

Mason had three active warrants for his arrest in Minnesota, including one related to a 2021 murder outside a prominent North Side church. He was charged with second-degree intentional murder and illegal weapons possession in the slaying of Dontevius A. Catchings on June 11. The shooting occurred during funeral services for Christopher Jones Jr., who was killed outside a nightclub in downtown Minneapolis on May 22. Mason and Catchings, both believed to be part of the same street gang, got into a fistfight over a gun, according to charges.

At the time of the shooting, Mason had a pending felony fleeing police charge in Hennepin County. He had previously been charged and convicted of armed robbery three times in 2013. After the murder, Mason deleted his Facebook page and left the state. Investigators now believe he fled to the Indianapolis region.

Mason was arrested on September 11 but was mistakenly released two days later. The Marion County Sheriff’s Office has launched a round-the-clock manhunt and is working with the U.S. Marshals Service in a national search for Mason. The public was not immediately alerted to the release in order to maintain a tactical advantage and increase the chances of capturing Mason before he could go into hiding.

Mason is described as a 5’9″ Black male weighing approximately 205 pounds. He has a cross tattoo under his right eye, “SUB” tattooed on his chest, and a neck tattoo. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS (8477).