North Carolina man charged in juvenile shooting after ‘ding-dong ditch’ prank
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A North Carolina man is behind bars on felony charges for allegedly shooting a teenager playing “ding-dong ditch” in his neighborhood, according to police.
The incident occurred around 11:20 p.m. Saturday in Statesville, North Carolina, when deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office heard gunshots coming from a nearby neighborhood while conducting a traffic stop, authorities said. in a statement.
When authorities arrived in the Absher Farm Loop area to determine the source of the gunfire, they received a 911 call about a person suffering from a gunshot wound on nearby Castle Pines Lane.
Officers later discovered “an unoccupied vehicle stopped in the roadway with the passenger doors open, broken glass on the ground, and apparent bullet holes in the vehicle,” according to the statement, and then located a group of five juveniles in a nearby field.
WATCH: THREE FLORIDA TEENAGERS ARRESTED IN VIRAL ‘DOOR KICK CHALLENGE’ TARGETED HOMEOWNERS
According to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office, Craig Steven Mason is charged with aggravated assault with intent to kill with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle causing serious bodily injury. (Iredell County Sheriff’s Office)
Police said that one of the young people in the group had a gunshot wound to his leg.
While the authorities were conducting their initial investigation, they learned that while the group was walking around the neighborhood, an unidentified person shot at their vehicle and shot the young man in the leg.
Craig Steven Mason, who identified himself as the shooter, approached investigators as police gathered additional evidence, including witness interviews and surveillance video, police said.
THE HOMEOWNER WAS ARRESTED AFTER A GUN CONFLICT WITH THE YOUNG Jester: REPORT
On Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, a teenager participating in a “ding-dong ditch prank” was shot in Statesville, North Carolina, about 40 miles from Charlotte, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. (iStock)
Mason reportedly told investigators that he was sleeping in his home when he was awakened by loud noises coming from a nearby house, which caused him to grab his gun and go outside to investigate the cause of the noise.
“Mason told detectives that he observed a vehicle driving through the neighborhood without its headlights on and fired multiple shots toward the vehicle as it passed,” the department said.
The vehicle was then hit four times, with one bullet striking the young passenger in the leg.
GEORGIA HOMEOWNER ACCUSED OF SHOOTING SUSPECTED PORCH PIRATES
Craig Steven Mason was denied bail after he allegedly shot a teenager who participated in a “ding-dong ditch” prank in his Statesville, North Carolina, neighborhood on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (Google Maps)
Detectives later learned that the group was participating in a neighborhood game of “ding-dong ditch”; this was a common joke in which individuals would ring doorbells before escaping but not approaching Mason’s home.
On Monday, authorities arrested Mason on charges of aggravated assault with intent to kill with a deadly weapon causing serious bodily injury, four counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony charges of discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle causing serious bodily injury, according to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office. He was not granted any bail as he awaited an appearance before a district court judge.
Fox News Digital was not immediately able to locate an attorney representing Mason.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
As of Monday, the young victim was in the hospital and still receiving medical treatment for his injuries.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment, citing an active investigation.
