Suspect pleads not guilty in Brooksville shootings that killed 3
BROOKSVILLE — George Mason, III, accused of shooting to death three people and critically injuring a fourth during an August rampage, pleaded not guilty to the crimes in a Hernando County courtroom this week.
Brooksville Police say Mason killed Jannie Taylor, 81, and Ralph Peyton, 29, both of 820 Peach Street, and Tarasha Townsend, 37, the mother of Mason’s two young daughters, on Aug. 29.
Mason, 42, and Townsend lived together at 24922 Oakhaven Court., Lutz.
Mason was shooting his half-brother, Gabriel Taylor, 33, in the middle of nearby Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, when he was struck by a full-size Dodge Ram pickup traveling about 45 mph, ending the incident around 9 p.m. that night, police said.
Mason was indicted last week on three charges of first-degree murder with a firearm, and one count each of attempted felony murder, possession of a firearm by a felon and armed burglary with a firearm, court records show.
Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino said he has not yet decided whether or not to seek the death penalty. He has 45 days from Mason’s arraignment to make that decision, and Magrino said he will likely decide in the next couple of weeks.
“I’m in the process of evaluating the aggravating circumstances, reasons that could be found as a basis to support a death sentence or (death) recommendation,” Magrino said. “I also have to take into account mitigating circumstances, reasons why a jury might not make a death recommendation.”
Mason suffered broken limbs and vertebrae after being struck by the pickup, but Magrino said he walked into the courtroom this week under his own power.
“He did walk kind of gingerly,” Magrino said. “And he had a knee brace on.”
Mason’s most recent mug shot shows apparent injuries and scarring around the left side of his head and face.
Gabriel Taylor, who Mason was allegedly shooting in the head and torso when he was struck by the pickup, also has been released from a local hospital and is recovering, Magrino said.
Mason is a convicted felon with numerous arrests on a variety of charges involving drugs, domestic battery, sexual activity with a minor, violating a restraining order, stalking, fleeing to elude law enforcement and several other charges, records show.
Investigators have said that Mason started shooting inside the house, first killing Jannie Taylor and Peyton; Gabriel Taylor also was initially shot inside the house.
Taylor fled the house when Mason went outside to shoot Townsend, but Mason caught up to his half-brother on Martin Luther King, where he continued to shoot him, investigators said.
No motive for the crimes has been disclosed.
Mason, who is represented by public defender Devon Sharkey, is being held without bail at the Hernando County Jail, records show. He is next scheduled to appear before Judge Stephen Toner on Nov. 26, court records show.
(352) 544-5283
