Kingsport, Tennessee

From the Kingsport Times-News of May 2, 2006

Shooting victim facing charges in Kingsport

A man who shot another man over the weekend acted in self-defense when he pulled the trigger, according to a Kingsport police detective.

Officers were called to 1633 Newbern Road around 5:30 p.m. Saturday about shots being fired. When officers arrived, they talked to Rocky Renfro, who was visiting a friend, Erika Davis, at her residence.

Renfro told police that he was standing in the driveway eating a hamburger on the hood of his truck when Jeffrey Scott Bishop 43, of Kingsport, approached and stood on the opposite side of the vehicle.

"He advised that Bishop was angry about not being properly compensated for work that he had done at the residence," Kingsport Police Department Detective Chris Tincher said.

Renfro told police that he was at Davis' house when Bishop had been fired from the job because she was not satisfied with the work.

"Mr. Bishop said that we are going to take care of this now and pulled a pistol from his waist," Tincher said.

Renfro also told police that he heard Bishop say he was going to kill Renfro and then began firing his weapon.

Renfro, who has a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit, retrieved his own gun from his truck and fired back. Bishop was struck in the right forearm and abdomen.

He left the scene and drove himself to Holston Valley Medical Center. He later told police that on the way he threw his gun, a .380 Jennings pistol, and a Stevens double-barrel shotgun out. Police recovered those weapons and took Renfro's .45-caliber Glock for evidence until the case is concluded.

Bishop gave police a different story about how the shooting went down, according to Tincher's affidavit. Bishop told police that Renfro stuck a gun in his face and then threw another pistol to him.

"Bishop stated that Mr. Renfro began firing, so he picked up the pistol and returned fire," Tincher said.

He later changed his story and said the gun belonged to his wife and he took it with him because he heard that Renfro carried a gun.

Bishop faces charges of attempted first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, simple possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tincher said he found the drugs and paraphernalia in some of Bishop's belongings collected at the hospital.

Bishop is free on a $54,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in general sessions court May 18.