Mona Farm Place Shooting Update
Charles County Sheriff's detectives have identified the victim of the homicide/shooting that occurred on Sept. 25 in the 9100 block of Mona Farm Place in La Plata as Mason Cameron Atkins, 18, of Deale.
A preliminary investigation revealed the victim and his friends learned of a party on Mona Farm Place and showed up uninvited. When they pulled up to the entrance of the driveway, they were asked to leave, which they did. They drove about a half mile away, heading to the main highway, when they passed other vehicles that were stopped on the narrow road. At some point, there was an argument with the occupants of another car. The suspects in the other vehicle produced a gun and fired shots, striking Atkins and his friend. The suspects fled and the victims drove to Popes Creek Road where they called 911.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Det. Shankster at (301) 609- 6513. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may contact Charles County Crime Solvers by calling 1-866-411-TIPS, texting CHARLES + the tip to CRIMES (274637) or submitting tips online at tipsubmit.com.
Joshua Terrell Mebane Pleads Not Guilty in 2012 Murder of Teresa Bass
Tony Covington, State's Attorney for Charles County announced that Joshua Terrell Mebane, 21 was arraigned today in the Circuit Court for Charles County. Mebane plead not guilty to First Degree Murder and Attempted Murder for events that occurred on October 26, 2012. He will be held at the Charles County Detention Center without bond pending his January 30, 2017 trial.
In 2012, Mebane was charged with the First-Degree Murder of Teresa Bass and the Attempted Murder of her husband Jerry Bass Jr. as the couple walked their dog in the Hampshire neighborhood of Waldorf. Officers working security at the Westlake High School football game that night heard several gunshots and were on the crime scene within a minute. Teresa Bass was taken by ambulance to Civista Medical Center in La Plata, where she died. Jerry Bass Jr. was flown to an area hospital, where he was at one point listed in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to his back.
Mebane was developed as a suspect in the Bass shootings during the investigation of the murder of Quadar Muhammad, 44, which occurred on November 7, 2012 in Washington DC. During that investigation Mebane's then girlfriend reported that he was responsible for shooting Teresa and Jerry Bass. Charles County investigators followed up on this report and uncovered additional evidence that resulted in Mebane's arrest for the murder and attempted murder of the Bass couple.
The delay in bringing Mebane to trial in Charles County occurred because Mebane was held in the District of Columbia from November of 2012, the time of his arrest for the killing of Mr. Muhammad, until November of 2015, when he was sentenced for that crime. In November of 2015, Mebane was sentenced to 45 years for Mr. Muhammad's death and was subsequently transported to a federal penitentiary. Finally, on September 23, 2016 he was transported from that federal facility to Charles County to face charges for the murder of Teresa Bass and the attempted murder of Jerry Bass.