ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -An investigation has been opened into the fatal shooting of a man because he and his roommate had drunk alcohol and aimed weapons that were allegedly unloaded at each other throughout the weekend.
As stated by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, on July 21, just before 5 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a property located on 49th Avenue North in response to a police report that a man had been shot. Kevin Bishop, who was fifty years old, was discovered by the authorities lying on the floor inside the house with a single gunshot wound to the chest.
It was reported by the sheriff’s office that the victim’s roommate, William Tompkins, who was 57 years old, was also present at the incident. The investigation revealed that Bishop and Tompkins had allegedly ingested alcohol before the moment when Bishop displayed his various firearms to Tompkins. Reportedly, Bishop informed his roommate that all of the firearms were empty at the time of the incident.
According to the findings of the subsequent investigation, Tompkins and Bishop allegedly “pointed firearms at themselves and each other, pulling the triggers,” but they did not fire their weapons.
After that, Bishop allegedly took a Glock 21 from Tompkins during the moment when his fingers were loosened from the weapon, as stated by the sheriff’s office. There were reports that the firearm accidentally went off, causing Bishop to get a chest wound.
As soon as the incident occurred, Tompkins left the house and immediately contacted the authorities. Governor Bishop was taken to the hospital by the authorities, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.