Police said Michael Cody Wilson was taken into custody after a multi-day search tied to the Lake Montonia break-in.
KINGS MOUNTAIN, NC — A Kings Mountain mother and her adult son said a masked man armed with a shotgun forced his way into their home early Saturday, threatened them and fled with phones and cash before police later arrested a suspect.
The case drew attention in the Lake Montonia area after police said the intruder entered an occupied home around 5:55 a.m. May 9. Investigators identified the suspect as Michael Cody Wilson and said he “repeatedly threatened and terrorized” the family. Police said Tuesday night that Wilson had been taken into custody by the Bessemer City Police Department and was being held in the Gaston County jail on no bond.
Diane Davis said the man wore a ski mask when he kicked in the front door and demanded money. She said the barrel of the shotgun came within inches of her face as she tried to understand what he wanted. “He walked over to me, stood over me, and showed it at me,” Davis said. “And I kept asking, ‘What do you want? What do you want? Who do you want?’” Her son, Chris Davis, said the intruder forced him to the floor and taped his hands behind his back with duct tape. The family said the man took their cellphones and less than $100 in cash before running away.
No one was hurt, but the family described the encounter as frightening and close. Diane Davis showed where she said the gun was pointed at her inside the home. Chris Davis said the attack was especially upsetting because his mother was placed in danger. “It’s pretty bad. He comes in and does it with my mom,” Chris Davis said. “If you’ve got issues with me, take it up with me. Don’t take it out on my mom.” Police have not said in the available public reports whether investigators believe the family and Wilson knew each other before the break-in. The exact motive also remained unclear.
The home invasion prompted a large search by Kings Mountain police, Gaston County police and the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said officers found a sawed-off shotgun, gloves and a face mask in a wooded area near the scene. Police said the items were believed to be connected to the break-in. Earlier in the search, K9 units and drones were used as officers looked through the area. Police described Wilson as armed and dangerous before his arrest and released a description that said he is a white man about 6 feet 3 inches tall with multiple tattoos on both arms. He had last been reported wearing a black shirt, black shorts and black shoes.
The Lake Montonia area is a residential section of Kings Mountain with homes near wooded land and the water. The setting became part of the search after police said the suspect fled on foot and evidence was found nearby. The case unfolded over several days, beginning with the early Saturday break-in and continuing through the public search notice Monday. By Tuesday night, police said the search had ended with Wilson’s arrest. The arrest shifted the case from an active manhunt to the next stage of the criminal process. Police had not released a full list of charges in the available reports, but they said Wilson was being held without bond in Gaston County.
Authorities said Wilson was taken into custody by Bessemer City police after the multi-day search. The available reports did not say where he was found or what led officers to him. They also did not say whether he had an attorney. Investigators are expected to continue reviewing the recovered shotgun, mask and gloves as evidence in the case. The family’s account, the recovered items and police statements now form the public record released so far. Any court dates, formal charging documents and additional details from investigators would mark the next steps in the case.
The Davis family said they were grateful to be alive after the encounter. Their account focused on the fear inside the home, the shotgun, the duct tape and the short time in which the intruder took property and ran. Police said the break-in involved threats against an occupied home, and the search that followed brought in several agencies. The case also left neighbors in the Lake Montonia area watching for updates as officers searched woods and nearby streets for the suspect.
As of Wednesday, Wilson was in the Gaston County jail on no bond after his arrest Tuesday night. Police had not released additional public details on the exact arrest location, a motive or the next scheduled court appearance.
Author note: Last updated May 13, 2026.