Camden man shot in face at Cherry Hill hotel

A night of partying turned into bloody chaos on Thursday at a Cherry Hill hotel.

Chrishon Carver, 18, was shot once in the face by Albert Cass, 18, during an argument at the Holiday Inn on Route 70 West, according to Cherry Hill Detective Sgt. Joseph W. Vitarelli Jr.

The men, both of Camden, clashed when Carver refused to leave the room with Cass and a friend in search of girls, Vitarelli said.

Carver, who had a bullet lodged at the base of his skull, was in good condition Friday at Cooper University Hospital.

"Another half-inch or so, this would have been a homicide," Vitarelli said.

Cass was being held in the Camden County jail Friday on $250,000 bail, charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon.

Police said that Cass had rented two rooms at the hotel after collecting money from his mother's estate. He and five or more other people had been drinking there for at least two days.

Cass and Carver argued in a hotel corridor shortly before 11:30 p.m. The dispute became heated and Cass pulled a .38 revolver. A surveillance camera captured images of Cass shooting Carver in the face.

A hotel employee called police, who found Cass with the friend, who had witnessed the shooting, in front of the hotel. Police later found the revolver in shrubs outside the hotel.

The friend, Jamire Baskerville, 20, of Camden, was charged with hindering a police investigation and was held on $10,000 bail, Vitarelli said.