Armed homeowner wounds juvenile engaged in ‘ding-dong ditch’ prank, NC cops say

A homeowner is facing felony assault charges after he fired shots at a group of juveniles engaged in the controversial “ding-dong ditch” prank, according to investigators in Iredell County.

It happened around 11:20 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, near Statesville, and one juvenile was wounded, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office reported in a Jan. 5 news release. The juvenile remained hospitalized as of Jan. 5, officials said.

The shooting was discovered when deputies heard gunshots near Taylorsville Highway and began searching for the source.

“Deputies located an unoccupied vehicle stopped in the roadway (on Castle Pines Drive) with passenger doors open, broken glass on the ground, and apparent bullet holes in the vehicle,” the sheriff’s office said.

“Deputies then observed several individuals in a nearby field. When deputies made contact, they encountered five juveniles, one of whom was on the ground suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg. Iredell County EMS responded to the scene and transported the injured juvenile to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital.”

An investigation “determined the juveniles were in the neighborhood playing a prank referred to as ‘ding-dong ditch’,” officials said. The risky nighttime game involves ringing doorbells, knocking on doors or kicking doors, then running away before the homeowner answers.

“During the investigation, an individual approached deputies and identified himself as the shooter (and) told investigators he had been asleep and was awakened by loud noises coming from a neighboring residence,” the sheriff’s office said.

“He stated that he retrieved a handgun and went outside to investigate the incident. (He) told detectives he observed a vehicle driving through the neighborhood with no headlights on, and he fired multiple rounds toward the vehicle as it passed. The vehicle was struck four times.”

The homeowner was identified as Craig Steven Mason, and “detectives determined the juvenile victims had not approached Mason’s residence, only nearby homes,” officials said.

Mason has been charged with: felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury; four counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon, and felony discharging a weapon into an occupied vehicle causing serious bodily injury, officials said.

Legal experts note people playing ding-dong ditch can also face charges, with offenses ranging from criminal trespass to disorderly conduct.

Statesville is about a 40-mile drive north from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published January 6, 2026 at 7:06 AM.