BELLINGHAM - A Bellingham man suspected of firing shots into the air and pointing a gun at four people during an argument downtown early Thursday, Aug. 23, was booked into Whatcom County Jail for investigation of first- and fourth-degree assault.

Christopher James Baker, 25, began arguing with three men and a woman, all in their 20s, after he allegedly pushed the woman around 1:30 a.m. Thursday at a bar in the 200 block of West Holly Street, said Bellingham Police Sgt. Shawn Aiumu.

When the fight moved outside, Baker pulled out a small handgun and fired at least three shots into the air at the intersection of West Holly and Cornwall Avenue, Aiumu said. Baker then pointed the gun at the four victims and sprayed pepper spray at them, hitting at least one person, he said.

Baker's brother drove him away from the scene, Aiumu said. One victim wrote down the car's license plate number and officers were able to stop the vehicle at James and Ohio streets and arrest both brothers.

Benjamin Lowell Baker, 21, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree rendering criminal assistance.

Officers found a handgun in the car, Aiumu said. Christopher Baker, a felon not allowed to have a gun, admitted firing the gun in the air and said he didn't want to get his brother or a third passenger in the car in trouble, Aiumu said.

Officers also found two cartridges and a bullet at the intersection, Aiumu said.

The location of the fight and the shots fired was corrected Aug. 24, 2012.