ROCK HILL - At approximately 12:20 am on December 25, 2024, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Patrol responded to a 911 call of a domestic dispute at 144 Lucky Lake Drive in Rock Hill.

At the location, deputies were advised that a subject armed with a shotgun had an argument with family members, had fired a shot through a glass door, and was threatening to harm himself.

Deputies also learned that there were several friends and family members still in the residence. The deputies at the scene called for the Sheriff’s Emergency Services Unit (ESU) and the Bearcat armored vehicle. The ESU team was able to extract the uninvolved occupants from the residence and then tried to make contact with the suspect by flying a small drone through the home.

The suspect was eventually located in the basement of the residence armed with a loaded 12 gauge shotgun. The Sheriff’s Emergency Services Unit took the suspect into custody without incident.

Sheriff’s Deputies have identified the suspect as Justin J. Gallo, age 37, who resides at that address.

Gallo was charged with the felony of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, felony, and misdemeanor Criminal Mischief as well as the misdemeanor of Menacing. He was arraigned before Town of Mamakating Justice Terrance Mullen and sent to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail.

Gallo is due back in the Town of Thompson Court on Monday December 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm.

Sheriff Mike Schiff, who personally went to the scene, praised the actions of his deputies and the state troopers who responded in the bitter cold conditions.

“They showed amazing restraint and averted a certain tragedy here on Christmas Day”, said the Sheriff. The Sheriff also thanked the Rock Hill Ambulance Corps who were on standby during the incident.