Special to Iredell Free News
A Hamptonville man is free on bond after being charged with opening fire on three teenagers after they attempted to prank a friend who lives next to the suspect.
Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced the arrest of William James Baugus, 50, of York Spann Road, Hamptonville, in a news release.
Shortly after midnight on Friday, December 30, ICSO deputies responded to the area of York Spann Road in northern Iredell County in reference to a report of shots fired at a vehicle, Campbell said.
When the deputies arrived, they located three juveniles who told the deputies they had gone to a home to pull a prank on a friend by toilet papering the friend’s house.
While they were at the friend’s house, a neighbor, identified as Baugus, saw them putting toilet paper in the yard, Campbell said.
According to the news release, Baugus then confronted the juveniles, who got into their vehicle to leave the area. As the juveniles drove away, Baugus fired three shots at their vehicle, Campbell said, adding that deputies observed two bullet holes in the vehicle the juveniles were operating.
Baugus reportedly then got into his vehicle and followed the juveniles for some distance. During this pursuit, the suspect drove his vehicle into the rear of the juveniles’ vehicle, causing a vehicle collision, according to the news release.
No injuries were reported as a result of the incident.
ICSO Investigators K. Campbell and C. Davidson responded to assist in the investigation.
The detectives interviewed witnesses and collected evidence from the scene. The suspect gave a statement to the detectives, and the firearm used was seized by ICSO personnel, Campbell said.
As a result of the investigation, Baugus was arrested and charged with one count of felony discharging a firearm into an occupied property and three counts of misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon.
Baugus was served with the warrants at the Iredell County Detention Center. He appeared before Magistrate Imes, who issued a $50,000 secured bond on these charges.
It’s way past time that children are taught some respect. I have no idea what was on Williams mind when he did what he did.
But I can tell you from weekly person experience that many youth of today feel entitled to do as they please. It most likely is a small percentage.
But daily — if not weekly — four-wheelers ride all over my and my brother’s property. The first time I blocked off their path, every out building I have was broken into. I’ve cut down trees across the path. They move the trees. I’ve piled brush across their paths when I cut limbs and shrubbery. They move it and keep on riding on private land.
Have I called the sheriff’s office? No. What are they going to do? Most likely they can do nothing. At least that’s what happened when I caught someone stealing and I called.
I’ve even stopped some of the folks and asked them to stay off land that does not belong to them.
Parents, teachers, preacher, everyone, start teaching our youth to respect other folk’s property. If you want to ride and tear up property at 2 am and 3 am, then do it on your own property. If you want to roll someone’s yard, roll your own yard. Yes, rolling a yard with toilet paper is not harming anything, but it shows a lack of respect.