A quiet Saturday night in Statesville, North Carolina, shattered with the sound of gunfire. Deputies, already engaged in a traffic stop, heard the shots ring out from a nearby neighborhood, instantly shifting their focus to the source of the disturbance.
The initial 911 call reported a gunshot wound, leading officers to Castle Pines Lane. There, they discovered a scene of chaos: an abandoned vehicle riddled with bullet holes, doors flung open, and shards of glass scattered across the road.
A short distance away, in a nearby field, five juveniles were found. One of them suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, the victim of a shocking act of violence that had just unfolded.
Investigators quickly pieced together the events. The group of teenagers had been playing a harmless, if mischievous, game of “ding-dong ditch” – running up to doors and ringing the bell before fleeing. They hadn’t even approached the house of the man who would soon accuse them of disturbing the peace.
Craig Steven Mason, the homeowner, shockingly approached authorities and confessed to firing at the vehicle. He claimed he’d been awakened by noise and, believing he was responding to a threat, grabbed his handgun and opened fire on the passing car.
Mason described a vehicle driving without headlights, and stated he fired multiple rounds in its direction. Those rounds didn’t just miss; one struck a young person inside, causing a serious leg injury.
Evidence, including witness statements and surveillance footage, corroborated the story of the teenagers, revealing the true nature of the night’s events. The playful prank had escalated into a terrifying ordeal.
Now, Mason faces a barrage of felony charges: assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, multiple counts of felony assault, and discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle. He is currently held without bond, awaiting his day in court.
The injured juvenile remains hospitalized, receiving treatment for their wounds. The Iredell County Sheriff’s Office continues its investigation, piecing together the full scope of this disturbing incident and the choices that led to it.
