Police: Man arrested in Fairhaven shooting, narrowly misses relative’s head

FAIRHAVEN — Lt. Kevin Kobza reports that the Fairhaven Police Department arrested a North Carolina man after a dispute early Saturday morning that resulted in shots being fired in a vehicle.

Shortly before 2 a.m. Saturday, Fairhaven Police responded to a location on Main Street for a report of a fight and shots fired.

Upon arrival, officers found three males standing in the middle of the street near a 2011 white BMW car. Police separated and interviewed each man individually.

A police investigation determined that the driver of the BMW, 24-year-old Christopher Gaskill, got into a heated argument with his cousin, who was a passenger in the vehicle. During the argument, the driver is alleged to have produced a handgun and fired one round towards his cousin, narrowly missing his head.

The suspect is also alleged to have pistol whipped the man during the dispute.

The two passengers in the vehicle began to struggle with the driver to secure the handgun, at which time two more shots were fired. One of the bullets penetrated the front windshield of the vehicle, and the other two were fired into the floorboard. No one was struck by the three total shots.

Gaskill was arrested at the scene. He was transported by Fairhaven Paramedics to St. Luke’s Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the struggle in the vehicle.

Officers recovered a 9mm Baretta handgun, ammunition, and shell casings from the scene.

Gaskill was arrested and charged with Discharge of a Firearm within 500 Feet of a Building, Carrying a Firearm while Intoxicated, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Assault with Intent to Murder, Assault and Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm, and Possession of a Large Capacity Firearm in Commission of a Felony.

Gaskill was soon released from the hospital and transported to the Fairhaven Police Department for booking before he was taken to Ash Street Jail and Regional Lock-Up in New Bedford. He is being held and is expected to be arraigned Monday at New Bedford District Court.