Police make murder arrest
Published 12:00 am Monday, May 17, 2004
YORK – It took local police a while to sort through the evidence surround a Sunday night homicide.
But after nearly three days of questioning, York police have arrested Kelvin Bishop, 23, of York, with first degree murder for the shooting death of Andres Rumley, 32.
A confrontation between Rumley and Bishop, which happened at the E-Z Clean Carwash south of Highway 17 in York, ended around 10 p.m. Sunday when Bishop fired at least four rounds at Rumley.
According to York Police Chief Ricky Thomas, further investigation could find that there were many more shots fired. However, police do know that Bishop allegedly used a semi-automatic weapon that fired 9mm shells.
District Attorney Greg Griggers, who will prosecute the case, said some of the shots fired at Rumley were at point-blank range. Griggers also indicated there were a number of bullet holes in the car found at the scene.
The most interesting twist in the case is what led to the argument and ensuing homicide of Rumley.
Bishop, who turned himself in to law enforcement the same night of the crime, admitted shooting Rumley. While an apparent surrender came soon after the homicide, police still needed a couple of days to verify the testimony of Bishop and interview other witnesses.
The most interesting twist in the case is the circumstances surrounding the homicide. According to Bishop’s statement to police, the shooting was a result of a few personal jokes Rumley made toward the alleged gunman.
“Bishop said there wasn’t any bad blood between them and that they had been friends for many years,” the police chief said. “All of this happened over some jokes that just went to far.”
After the shooting, Thomas said Rumley was taken to Rush Hospital in Meridian, Miss. However, it was too late to rescue the 32-year-old. Doctors pronounced Rumley dead once he arrived.
Bishop has been charged with first-degree murder. According to Thomas, the suspect is being held in the Sumter County Jail under a $50,000 bond.
According to Griggers, the case is not likely to be tried as a capital murder case.
“It’s just a straight murder,” he said.
In a capital murder, prosecutors can seek the death penalty for the defendant. However, capital murder is strictly defined. In a broad definition, a capital murder occurs only under premeditated circumstance or during the course of another felony — such as a robbery. There also are other instances when a defendant can be charged with capital murder, but it is likely none fit the Sunday night shooting.