BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Mayor Brandon Scott says a letter written by a senior official in his administration supporting the release of a man now accused of killing a 12-year-old girl was never approved by leadership, and employees will no longer be allowed to write similar letters.
Thursday, FOX45 News questioned City Hall and Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates about the letter from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, MONSE, which vouched for Tyree Reynolds before his release from prison.
Reynolds, who had been incarcerated for a 2021 shooting, was released September 25. Eight days later, police say he opened fire at a youth football game at Leon Day Park in West Baltimore, killing 12-year-old Khloe Ishway and wounding four other people.
Reynolds is now facing murder, attempted murder and other charges.
Mark Mason, MONSE’s chief of victim services, wrote a letter to Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Cynthia Jones in 2025 describing Reynolds as a former mentee whom he had known since eighth grade.
Mason described Reynolds’ upbringing and experiences being robbed as a teenager, which he believed contributed to his eventual involvement with firearms.
“My advocacy for Tyree is so strong because I felt that I let him down,” Mason wrote.
Mason also expressed confidence Reynolds would not return to violence.
“I would not be going out on a limb writing this letter on his behalf if I felt that he is a violent offender and his plan is to come back into society to engage in more violence,” Mason wrote.
The letter went beyond a character assessment, promising MONSE would help Reynolds find employment and housing, enroll him in its reentry program and connect him with therapeutic support.
Whether those services were actually delivered remains unclear.
Reynolds was originally charged with attempted murder after police said he shot another person in the face during a July 2021 confrontation. He ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree assault and a weapons offense.
He received a 15-year sentence, with all but eight years suspended. In August 2025, a judge modified the active portion of his sentence to five years.
Bates said his office did not oppose the modification, in part because prosecutors were honoring an agreement reached before he became state’s attorney.
He also believes MONSE’s recommendation carried significant weight.
“The letter from the head of victim services on MONSE letterhead is what, to me, would have tilted the scales, so to speak,” Bates said Thursday.
Bates emphasized that Reynolds was serving a mandatory five-year term and estimated the modification may have changed his release date by only 30 to 60 days.
Still, Bates questioned MONSE’s involvement.
“To me, the question I have is why was MONSE weighing in on this? That’s the bigger question that I ask,” Bates said.
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FOX45 News questioned Bates about the qualifications of MONSE officials making these recommendations.
Bates acknowledged his office previously partnered with MONSE but ended that relationship after developing concerns.
“I don’t know what their vetting process was. I wasn’t there then. I don’t know what their systems are,” Bates said.
When asked whether MONSE should continue making recommendations, Bates said the agency would have to make that decision.
Following questions from FOX45 News, Mayor Scott confirmed the letter was not approved and announced a policy change.
“This letter was not approved by MONSE leadership, and no member of staff will ever be writing one again,” he said.
The mayor also emphasized Reynolds’ responsibility for his alleged actions.
“Let’s be clear: there is one person responsible for the cowardly murder of Khloe Ishway: Mr. Reynolds. This was a cowardly, reckless decision made by him and him alone,” Mayor Scott said.
“We are committed to getting justice on behalf of Khloe, her family, and the entire community, and we will not rest until we eradicate violence from our city for good.”
In a separate statement, MONSE said Mason acted without authorization from agency leadership.
“This letter was written as a character statement, based on the staff member’s prior personal relationship with Mr. Reynolds, without the permission of MONSE’s Director or Chief of Staff,” the agency said.
MONSE also stressed that it “has no direct decision-making authority in determining detention release or sentence modification.”
The agency condemned Reynolds’ alleged actions, calling them the product of his own decisions, and said it remains committed to supporting Ishway’s family, the youth football teams and the surrounding community.
However, MONSE did not explain why a letter it describes as personal included Mason’s official position and promises involving agency resources.
While Mayor Scott has now prohibited future letters, neither statement established whether Reynolds received housing, employment or therapeutic support during the eight days between his release and the shooting.
Bates said he also does not know whether MONSE followed through.
“I don’t know what MONSE has done, what they haven’t done,” Bates said.
Follow Political Reporter Mikenzie Frost on X and Facebook. Send tips to mbfrost@sbgtv.com.
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