Today (May 3), our office issued a statement regarding the decision not to pursue the prosecution of Brittany BISHOP-GILLISON (31), for Murder after her arrest in connection to the death of her sister, Kapricia Bishop (37), on March 25, 2022.

 

"We extend our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Kapricia Bishop as they struggle to deal with the unimaginable grief of her tragic death during a dispute with her sister, Brittany Bishiop-Gillison.

 

While the arrest of Bishop-Gillison was reasonable based on the initial investigation, ultimately the totality of the evidence gathered was insufficient for the State to overcome the defendant’s stated claim of self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.

 

The State has a legal and ethical obligation to only pursue the criminal prosecution of a defendant when there is a good faith belief that the offenses charged can be proven beyond and to the exclusion of every reasonable doubt to a jury. When that burden of proof cannot be met, the State must dismiss the charges and abandon any further effort to bring the case to trial."

 

On March 25, 2022, the Brevard County Sheriff's Office responded to a 9-11 call of a disturbance at 2175 Topaz Ct. in Merritt Island. Deputies found Kapricia Bishop deceased in the driveway, having suffered a single gun shot wound to the head. Witnesses told deputies that the Bishop had been arguing with her sister BISHOP-GILLISON in the home, and followed her to a car in the driveway. BISHOP-GILLISON was inside the car while Bishop was banging on the window. BISHOP-GILLISON exited with a hand gun and the two fought over the weapon. At one point Bishop had BISHOP-GILLISON by the throat and pinned against the garage. The gun discharged and a single bullet struck Bishop killing her.