Lynn shooting suspect has lengthy record

LYNN – No one was injured by three shots fired Tuesday night on Essex Circle, but police do not believe Vincent Gaskins’ claim that a friend fired the shots in an attempt to frighten him.Gaskins, 30, of 159A Essex St., told police interviewing him after his arrest that a friend named “Ben” fired two shots from a .38-caliber handgun into the air shortly before 8 p.m. as a warning against Gaskins’ continued involvement with a woman familiar to the friend.Police who converged on Essex Circle, a side street hemmed in by homes off Essex, found the .38 with three bullets inside it behind 15 Essex Circle and found three shell casings in one of Gaskin’s pockets after arresting him.He pleaded innocent in District Court Wednesday to carrying a firearm without identification, unlicensed possession of ammunition, trespassing, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.He was arrested after police detained two other men on Essex Circle and Gaskins fled into 16 Essex Circle, forcing the door open and running up the stairs as Officer Albert DiVirgilio and other officers pursued him.Gaskins, according to Officer Timothy Nerich’s report, obeyed a command to show officers his hands and then “turned away blocking our view of his hands.””Officer DiVirgilio and I began to violently wrestle with Gaskins in the hallway. He (Gaskins) was flailing his arms as we attempted to gain control. Due to the violent struggle, Gaskins was bleeding from the face.”DiVirgilio was treated at the scene for an injury to his left hand.Gaskins has more than 60 arraignment dates for criminal offenses listed in his court record including armed robbery, firearms possession and restraining order cases.Judge Michael Uhlarik set $10,000 bail for Gaskins but revoked bail set for him on a previous case. Gaskins is due back in court on Oct. 14.Revere police are also investigating a shooting that sent Miguel Santos of Boston to Massachusetts General Hospital with an unspecified injury. Emergency medical personnel responded to the Dunkin’ Donuts at 145 Broadway to provide medical aid at 5:48 p.m. Tuesday and investigated a report of a home invasion at 30 Park Ave.Police reports listed Abdel Abla of 30 Park Ave. as an individual involved in both incidents.”This is the subject of a very active investigation,” said police Capt. Michael Murphy.