A North Carolina man is behind bars on felony expenses after allegedly capturing a juvenile taking part in “ding-dong ditch” in his residential neighborhood, in response to police.
The incident occurred round 11:20 p.m. in Statesville, North Carolina, on Saturday, when deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Workplace heard gunshots coming from a close-by neighborhood whereas conducting a site visitors cease, authorities mentioned in an announcement.
As authorities arrived within the space of Absher Farm Loop to try to find the origin of the gunfire, they obtained a 911 name relating to a person affected by a gunshot wound in close by Fort Pines Lane.
Officers subsequently found an “unoccupied automobile stopped within the roadway with passenger doorways open, damaged glass on the bottom, and obvious bullet holes within the automobile,” earlier than finding a gaggle of 5 juveniles in a close-by subject, in response to the assertion.
One of many juveniles within the group had a gunshot wound to the leg, police mentioned.
As authorities carried out their preliminary investigation, they discovered the group was touring by the neighborhood when an unknown particular person fired at their automobile and struck the juvenile within the leg.
Whereas gathering extra proof, together with witness interviews and surveillance video, investigators had been approached by Craig Steven Mason, who recognized himself because the shooter, police mentioned.
Mason reportedly advised investigators he was asleep inside his residence when he was awoken by loud noises coming from a close-by residence, inflicting him to retrieve his handgun and go exterior to analyze the reason for the sound.
“Mason advised detectives he noticed a automobile driving by the neighborhood with no headlights on, and he fired a number of rounds towards the automobile because it handed,” the division mentioned.
The automobile was subsequently struck 4 instances, with one spherical putting the juvenile passenger within the leg.
Detectives later discovered the group was reportedly partaking in a recreation of “ding-dong ditch” within the neighborhood, a standard prank by which people ring doorbells earlier than working away, however didn’t strategy Mason’s residence.
On Monday, authorities arrested Mason on expenses of felony assault with a lethal weapon with intent to kill inflicting severe harm, 4 counts of felony assault with a lethal weapon and felony discharging a weapon into an occupied automobile inflicting severe bodily harm, in response to the Iredell County Sheriff’s Workplace.
He was issued no bond as he awaits an look earlier than a district courtroom choose.
Fox Information Digital was unable to instantly find an legal professional representing Mason.
As of Monday, the juvenile sufferer was within the hospital and nonetheless receiving medical therapy for his or her accidents.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Workplace declined Fox Information Digital’s request for remark, citing an lively investigation.
