23-year-old suspect in custody, ending Gastonia standoff

GASTONIA, N.C. — A 23-year-old suspect has been arrested and charged after an hours-long standoff on Wednesday in Gastonia, police said.

Police were called to a home at 211 Pryor Road around 9:20 a.m. for a shots-fired call.

Police said that Khalif Bigelow experienced a mental health crisis, fired shots at a house across the street from his home. The Home School Resource and Agile Learning Center were placed on lockdown.

Several agencies responded, including the Gastonia Regional SWAT Team and negotiators, because the suspect refused to come out of his house.

At 12:30 p.m., Chopper 9 Skyzoom was over the house when officers deployed an explosive breaching device, followed by non-lethal tear gas.

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Bigelow and his 39-year-old mother went out the front door and surrendered peacefully, police said. The mother was not considered a hostage. Police did not charge her with anything as of Wednesday afternoon.

Bigelow was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon, discharge of a firearm into an occupied dwelling, and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to kill.

Channel 9’s Ken Lemon was at the scene along West Airline Avenue. Roads in the area of North Pryor Street were closed.

‘Scary’

The owner of Gastonia Freedom School heard the gunshots and called 911.

“That was just unbelievable. It sounded like I was in a war zone,” said Cassandra Byrd, owner.

Byrd couldn’t describe the weapon but said it scared her.

There were a few students in the small school. She told Channel 9 that they all ducked for cover. They managed to crawl their way to safety.

Byrd said that 10-year-old Nathan Bentley heard the shots, picked up toys to use as a weapon, and told his teacher he would defend them.

Wednesday was the last day at Gaston Freedom, a home school environment for students with special needs. Nathan said he never heard gunshots in real life, but he knew what was happening the second it started.

“That was quite scary,” Nathan said. “Like, why would they shoot at our school?”

Nathan, who has autism, knew something wasn’t right.

“That school is not meant to be shot at,” he said.

Byrd said Nathan kept her and everyone calm as they crawled to the back of the school.

“‘Stay down, Ms. Cassandra. Keep your head down to the floor, Ms. Cassandra,’” Byrd repeated what the boy had said.

They got to a safe spot outside the school, and parents have picked up the handful of kids. They are OK.

Byrd and her students want Bigelow to know this: “Have some compassion and empathy for other people’s lives.”

“Shoot somewhere else,” the boy said.

Residents who live blocks down from the action said they heard about 50 shots.                             

A woman, who didn’t want to be identified, said she heard the police.

“I heard him say, ‘Drop your weapon. Get on the ground,’” the woman said.

Bigelow surrendered after three hours. Police said there were no injuries.

Channel 9 learned that Bigelow just got out of prison earlier this month after being arrested during another standoff at the same house.

In 2023, he barricaded himself inside after firing shots at another man.

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com and watch Eyewitness News for updates.

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