Fairhaven Police Arrest Man in Overnight Shooting

A North Carolina man faces serious charges after he allegedly shot a gun inside a white BMW and pistol-whipped a passenger on Main Street in Fairhaven early Saturday.

Christopher Gaskill, 24, of Grantsboro, North Carolia, was arrested and charged with discharge of a firearm within 500 Feet of a building, carrying a frearm 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, possession of a large capacity firearm in commission of a felony.

Shortly before 2 a.m. Fairhaven Police responded to Main Street for a report of a fight and shots fired. Officers found three men standing in the middle of the street near a 2011 white BMW. Police separated and interviewed the men individually, according to police spokesman Lt. Kevin Kobza.

Police learned that the driver of the BMW had been in a heated argument with his cousin, who was one of two passengers. The driver allegedly produced a handgun and fired one round towards his cousin, narrowly missing his head. The driver also allegedly pistol whipped the man.

The two passengers struggled 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 car, and the other two were fired into the floorboard. No one was struck by the three total shots.

The driver, identified as Gaskill, was arrested at the scene and transported by Fairhaven paramedics to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford for injuries sustained during the struggle inside the vehicle. Officers recovered a 9mm Baretta handgun, ammunition and shell casings from the scene.

Gaskill was quickly released from the hospital and transported to the Fairhaven Police Department for booking before being taken to the 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.