A North Carolina resident was arrested and faces multiple felony charges after admitting he shot at a vehicle occupied by teens playing "ding-dong ditch" in a residential neighborhood. One of the minors was shot in the leg and remains hospitalized. The incident occurred around 11:20 p.m. Saturday in Statesville, when Iredell County Sheriff's Office deputies heard gunshots while conducting a traffic stop in a nearby area, authorities said in a statement. While heading to the Absher Farm Loop area to locate the source of the shots, officers simultaneously received a 911 call reporting a person with a gunshot wound on Castle Pines Lane, a short distance away. Shot-up vehicle and five minors located. In the area, deputies found an unoccupied vehicle stopped in the roadway with the passenger-side doors open, broken glass on the pavement, and apparent bullet holes in the body. Shortly afterward, police located five minors hiding in a nearby field. One of them had a gunshot wound to the leg, authorities confirmed.

The suspect identified himself as the shooter

During the initial investigation, investigators determined that the group of teenagers was traveling through the neighborhood when an unknown individual opened fire on the vehicle.

While gathering evidence—including witness interviews and a review of surveillance video—Craig Steven Mason approached officers and identified himself as the shooter, according to the police report.

Mason stated that he was asleep in his home when he was awakened by loud noises at a nearby house, which led him to retrieve his firearm and go outside.

He fired at a moving vehicle

According to the testimony gathered by detectives,Mason claimed to have seen a vehicle driving through the neighborhood without its lights on and fired several shots at it as it passed his house. The car was hit by four bullets, one of which struck the underage passenger, causing the leg injury. The investigation later revealed that the youths were participating in a game known as "ding-dong ditch," a prank in which one rings a doorbell and runs away, although authorities clarified that they did not approach Mason's residence. Multiple felony charges and no bail. On Monday, Craig Steven Mason was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill causing serious bodily injury, four additional counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and the felony of shooting at an occupied vehicle causing serious bodily injury. The suspect remains in custody without bail pending his appearance before a district judge. Victim continues

As of Monday, the injured child remained hospitalized and under medical treatment, authorities reported.

The Iredell County Sheriff's Office declined to offer further comment, citing an ongoing investigation.

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