Kevin Mason's Family Demands To See Police Body Camera Video After Deadly NW Baltimore Standoff

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --The family of Kevin Mason is demanding that Baltimore City Police release body camera videos from their deadly standoff with him Sunday.

"We need to see that video," Mason's sister Maryland Muse told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. "Why didn't the commissioner get in touch with us? I'm here. Where's he? Where is he? Hi, Catherine Pugh! Where are they?"

Commissioner Michael Harrison said he personally reviewed the video. He said "the suspect repeatedly threatened to kill the officers if they came any closer" to his home.

The commissioner also said the department has no formal policy on if or when to release body camera video and declined to say whether he would release footage in this case to the family or the public.

He also declined to name any of the officers involved in the shooting.

"There was a threat from this subject to the officers," Harrison said.

He said the call started as a report of an assault at 11:40 Sunday night in Mason's home with a yellow awning in the 4900 block of Pembridge Avenue near the Pimlico racetrack.

Renee Greene told Hellgren she was inside the house at the time. "I was upstairs and another female was in the house and they got into an altercation over a phone."

Police say an officer fired two shots at Mason when he stepped outside his back door.

They say Mason then went back inside the home. Several hours later, one of the women came out and reported that Mason was "sleeping." Police found him unresponsive inside and he was later pronounced dead.

The commissioner said officers who responded to the scene were told about an incident years ago where Mason shot at officer. Family members say he served his time for that and believe it has no bearing on the standoff.

The commissioner could not say whether Mason was armed before his death, but family members say Mason had no weapons.

"I believe in being accountable to our community and to our department. I believe in transparency to our community," the commissioner said.

"We need to know who put those bullets into my uncle," said Mason's niece Angel Banks.

She described him as having a "big heart" and cherishing his two dogs.

"We should have a better rapport with police officers, and we don't. It's because of incidents like this," Banks said.

This is a developing story. Stay with WJZ for updates.

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