10/28/2012

Teen accused of killing mom, boyfriend in bed

By NBC News staff

An 18-year-old Florida youth with a history of mental health issues shot his mother and her boyfriend to death in their bed and then called 911 to surrender, sheriff's officials said Sunday.

Benjamin K. Bishop is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the shotgun slayings of his mother, Imari Shibata, and her boyfriend, Kelley Allen, both 49, at the mother's home in Oldsmar.


Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Bishop shot the pair multiple times early Sunday morning following a series of arguments with his mother.

According to a sheriff's press release:

Bishop advised detectives that on Saturday, October 27th, his mother told him to get a job, take his medicine for his mental health issues, and to start paying rent. Bishop said he also had a discussion with Allen over the laundry. Saturday night, Bishop said he was angry and retrieved the shotgun after the arguments, loaded the weapon and shot his mother and Allen in their bedroom. He told detectives he then reloaded the shotgun and shot them again.

Bishop called 911 to report the shootings and surrendered to deputies at his front door, sheriff's officials said.

Detectives said a friend bought the shotgun for Bishop a couple of weeks ago at a local shop for $279.  Bishop pawned a number of electronic items to get money to buy it, saying he needed the weapon for protection from gang members, according to the sheriff's office.

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Bishop has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, the sheriff said. He requires medication for his mental health issues and reportedly had not always taken his medication as required, according to investigators.

The sheriff said Bishop was still on probation for a 2011 domestic battery incident in which he allegedly struck his mother and tried to strangle her. 

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