Gastonia SWAT deployed tear gas to end a three-hour standoff after a man fired shots toward nearby homes, according to the Gastonia Police Department.
Just after 9:15 a.m. Wednesday morning, officers responded to a home on North Pryor Street near West Airline Avenue.
Police said 23-year-old Khalif Bigelow was having a mental health crisis when he fired rounds from inside his residence toward homes across the street, including the Home School Resource and Agile Learning Center. The school was placed on lockdown.
The Gastonia Regional SWAT Team, Gastonia Regional Drone Team, and the Gastonia Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the scene.
Non-lethal tear gas and an explosive breaching device were deployed around 12:30 p.m. to help resolve the situation, police said. Shortly after, Bigelow and his mother, Tasha, exited the home and surrendered to police.
βWe are thankful this dangerous situation was resolved peacefully and without injury to residents, responding officers, or the individuals involved. This incident highlights the professionalism and coordination of all responding agencies during a highly volatile situation.
Tasha was not a hostage and has not been charged, police said.
Khalif was taken into custody. He has been charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, discharging of a firearm into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.
No injuries were reported from the incident.
