Westchase Swim Coach Slain

Westchase swim coach Kelley M. Allen is one of two people shot to death around 1:30 a.m. Oct. 28 in Oldsmar.

According to a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office media release, Allen, 49, and his live-in girlfriend, Imari Shibata, 49, were shot to death by Shibata’s 18-year-old son, Benjamin Bishop, at the 205 Cedar Key Court home the three shared.

Bishop admitted to shooting both with a 12-gauge shotgun after a several arguments broke out on Saturday, Oct. 27, the media release said.

Those arguments, the release said, were related to Shibata’s request that Bishop get a job, take his medicine and start paying rent. Bishop, deputies say, suffers from a mental condition and wasn’t taking his medicine.

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Bishop also told deputies that he and Allen had a discussion about laundry.

“Bishop said he was angry and retrieved the shotgun after the arguments, loaded the weapon and shot his mother and Allen in their bedroom,” the release said. “He told detectives he then reloaded the shotgun and shot them again.”

Following the incident, Bishop called 911 to report the shootings. He turned himself over to deputies at the front door.

Detectives discovered that Bishop had pawned several electronic items to get the money he needed to purchase the gun.

“He could not purchase the firearm himself because he was still on probation for a 2011 domestic battery incident, where he struck his mother and tried to strangle her,” the release said. “Bishop reportedly told a friend that he wanted the gun for protection from gang members.”

The gun was purchased for $279 several weeks ago and was stored in the attic of his home until he brought it down a few days ago and stored it in his dresser, the release said.

The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has responded to the Cedar Key Court address several times in the past, the release said.

Bishop has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Allen coached swimming for the Westchase Swim and Tennis Center. He was one of the instructors for the Little Flippers class for children ages 6 to 12.

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