Man Arrested After Shooting Juvenile

Iredell County, NC — Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell said deputies are investigating a shooting that left a juvenile injured late Saturday night.

On Saturday, January 3, 2026, at approximately 11:20 p.m., deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office were conducting a traffic stop on Taylorsville Highway when they heard multiple gunshots coming from a nearby neighborhood.

Within minutes, deputies responded to the area of Absher Farm Loop to locate the source of the gunfire. At the same time, Iredell County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a person with a gunshot wound on Castle Pines Drive.

Deputies arrived to find an unoccupied vehicle stopped in the roadway with passenger doors open, broken glass on the ground, and apparent bullet holes in the vehicle. Nearby, deputies encountered five juveniles in a field, one of whom was suffering from a gunshot wound to the leg.

Iredell County EMS responded and transported the injured juvenile to Wake Forest Baptist Hospital for emergency treatment.

During the investigation, deputies learned the juveniles were driving through the neighborhood when an unknown individual fired multiple rounds at their vehicle. One bullet entered the vehicle and struck the juvenile passenger.

Detectives and crime scene investigators responded, interviewing witnesses and collecting physical evidence, including surveillance video from nearby homes.

During the investigation, an individual approached deputies and identified himself as the shooter. Craig Steven Mason, of 200 Staffordshire Drive, told investigators he had been asleep and was awakened by loud noises in the neighborhood. Mason said he retrieved a handgun and went outside, where he observed a vehicle driving through the area without headlights and fired multiple rounds at it as it passed.

Investigators determined the vehicle was struck four times, with one round hitting the juvenile passenger.

Further investigation revealed the juveniles were participating in a prank known as “ding-dong ditch,” involving ringing doorbells and knocking on doors before running away. Detectives determined the juveniles did not approach Mason’s residence, only nearby homes.

Based on the evidence, detectives obtained arrest warrants charging Mason 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.

Mason was arrested on Monday, January 5, 2026, and received no bond by Magistrate S. Watkins. Bond will be determined during his first appearance before a district court judge.

The juvenile victim remains hospitalized and continues to receive medical treatment. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be filed.

Mason has a prior conviction for misdemeanor driving while impaired.