Overview of The Deck — "Mason Worthington (Wild Card, Virginia)"
This episode of The Deck (hosted by Ashley Flowers) examines the unsolved December 2018 homicide of 20-year-old William “Mason” Worthington in Williamsburg, Virginia. Investigators have reconstructed much of the night — who was present, that two masked shooters entered the home and opened fire, and that Mason returned fire once — but a key person who arrived right before the attack, known only as Victor, has stayed elusive. Lieutenant Donald Mickett of the sheriff’s office has pursued leads for years and is asking the public for tips that could finally tie guns and people to the crime.
Key details of the case
- Victim: William Mason Worthington (“Mason”), age 20 — found dead in his home on Wilkins Drive, Williamsburg, around midnight on Dec 29–30, 2018.
- Scene: Multiple gunshot strikes inside the house, damage to front door and interior, no signs of forced entry — investigators believe the attack was targeted.
- Evidence collected: More than 50 items (shell casings, three firearms recovered later from outside sources, drugs, beer bottles, etc.). Ballistics showed three different cartridge types at the scene: one linked to Mason’s fired shot and two different 9mm signatures consistent with two shooters.
- Behavior before the shooting: Mason had been selling narcotics on the side (not widely known to family). He and a friend Omar Gonzalez spent the day together (including a trip to D.C.) and were home that evening. A roommate Tyler Johns was out; another roommate, Zane, was out of town.
Timeline of the night (concise)
- Late evening/near midnight, Dec 29, 2018: Neighbors hear what sounds like gunshots.
- ~00:10 (Dec 30): Tyler Johns returns to house after being called, finds Mason dead in hallway and flags down police.
- Investigators process the scene (bullets in walls/couch, casings inside and out), interview roommates and friends. Omar is upset but gives inconsistent accounts; Tyler’s account considered genuine.
- Ballistics and lab work later indicate two other shooters fired 9mm weapons; Mason fired one shot back.
- Two firearms matching casings from the scene were ultimately recovered in separate incidents: one from a car stopped in Newport News, the other from a timeshare unit. Both guns had histories of private sales, complicating tracing.
People of interest
- Victor (no last name provided): Arrived at Mason’s house shortly before the shooters; his presence is considered critical. Victor was hard to locate, couch-surfed, worked near Williamsburg, was likely tipped off by an employer contacting HR when an investigator surveilled him, fled town, later spotted in Georgia, and (at the time of reporting) was back on investigators’ radar. Investigators want to interview him about why he was there and what he knows.
- Omar Gonzalez: Friend who had been with Mason that day. Cooperated with detectives but gave varying accounts and left gaps that raised suspicion; ultimately was ruled out as a suspect.
- Tyler Johns: Roommate who discovered the body and called 911; his account is considered consistent and he was not treated as a suspect.
- Lieutenant Donald Mickett: Lead investigator; continues to pursue leads and asks the public for help.
Evidence, leads, and investigative progress
- Ballistics: Three different bullet types recovered — Mason’s shot plus two distinct 9mm signatures consistent with two shooters.
- Firearms recovered: Two guns later matched to shell casings from the scene. Both guns had been privately resold after initial purchase, making trace work difficult under the laws then in effect. The chain led to people tied to narcotics circles, but investigators could not definitively place those guns in the shooters’ hands on the night of the homicide.
- Forensic DNA: Items submitted, but results were not helpful (long processing times and inconclusive contributors).
- Witness/forensic gaps: No reliable physical description of the shooters beyond height roughly at doorframe; door was unlocked or left open; inconsistencies in accounts (mainly from Omar) created investigative friction.
- Victor’s elusiveness: Multiple surveillance and tracking attempts were frustrated (including an apparent tip-off by an employer’s HR), and Victor left the area; later sightings include Georgia. His testimony or account could be the key to identifying the shooters.
Investigative challenges
- No clear suspect identified who can be tied legally to shooting that night.
- Gun tracing limited by private-sale rules in place in 2018 (now changed) — only original sale was logged.
- Witness memory and inconsistent statements (potentially due to trauma or intentional omission).
- The primary potential witness (Victor) has avoided interviews and routinely moved, making it difficult to obtain his account or tie him to evidence.
- DNA and other lab results were either delayed or non-contributory.
Current status & call to action
- Case remains unsolved. Lieutenant Mickett continues to investigate and seeks public tips that could provide the missing piece (vehicle descriptions, partial plates, people overheard talking about the event, anyone who remembers Victor or conversations referencing the shooting).
- Tip line: York County sheriff’s office non-emergency number — 757-890-3621. Ask to provide information or a tip regarding the Mason Worthington homicide.
Main takeaways
- The homicide appears targeted and connected to local narcotics activity.
- Ballistics point to two shooters in addition to Mason firing once; two firearms matching scene casings were recovered elsewhere but have not legally placed shooters at the scene.
- Victor — who arrived just before the attack — is the pivotal person investigators want to locate and interview.
- Public details, however small, could be critical: partial plates, car descriptions, past conversations, or anyone who may have heard someone recall specifics.
Notable quotes
- Lieutenant Mickett on DNA: “DNA is 8 to 10 months out… it’s not like in the movies.”
- Mickett on solving the case and Mason’s family: “This case I would love to get solved. I would love to say I put this person in jail and call Mason’s mother and say, hey, guess what? I got your present. Here it is.”
If you have a tip about the Dec. 29–30, 2018 shooting of Mason Worthington (Wilkins Drive, Williamsburg), please call 757-890-3621 and reference the Mason-Worthington homicide.