COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A Fort Carson soldier missing since Tuesday has been found dead in California of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Fort Carson spokeswoman Brandy Gill said police in Santa Cruz, Calif., found the body of 28-year-old Pfc. Roy Mason Jr. on Friday afternoon.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that Mason was found dead in a vehicle parked near the coastline. He called 911 shortly before 1:30 p.m. and said authorities would find a dead body when they got there.
Officers arrived to find a man in a car with a gun to his head. They put on protective gear, but Mason was dead by the time they reached the car, the Sentinel reported.
Fort Carson declined to comment on the manner of his death, saying the investigation was ongoing.
“We were hoping that we could find him. It is just very sad that he’s been found and he’s not with us anymore. Our hearts and our prayers go out to the family,” Gill said.
On Wednesday, Fort Carson officials asked for the public’s help in locating Mason, who had been missing since Tuesday morning when he failed to report for duty. They said he was listed as AWOL.
Mason was part of Fort Carson’s Warrior Transition Unit, to which physically and psychologically wounded soldiers are assigned as they recover or wait for reassignment. Gill would not comment on why Mason was assigned to that unit.
Mason, originally from Fairfield, Calif., served two tours of duty in Iraq and was once a member of the former 4th Brigade Combat Team. Several of the brigade’s members have been involved in homicide and suicide cases in the past couple of years.
