Jury selection started Monday for a Gary man accused of fatally shooting his wife.
Ellis Bishop, 69, is charged with murder in the Oct. 8, 2022 death of Victoria Bishop, 60.
He has pleaded not guilty and is arguing that he shot her in self-defense.
According to court documents, the couple had been drinking and got into an argument. Before she died, Victoria told investigators that her husband shot her in the stomach on purpose, records show.
She told Methodist’s hospital staff she couldn’t feel her legs. She later died Oct. 9 as she was transported to the University of Chicago hospital. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Gary Police responded after the shooting to the 2300 block of Marshalltown Lane. Officers found her lying outside the front door. There was no blood inside the home.
Ellis told a responding officer that Victoria maced him before he accidentally shot her. The officer alleged he didn’t appear to smell like mace or have any other symptoms.
“I hope she’s ok,” he told the officer. “I didn’t mean to shoot her. The gun just went off.”
He added he “just wanted to scare her.”
Police found a holstered .357-caliber revolver in the living room. Court documents estimate Ellis was at least three feet away when the shooting happened.
Officers didn’t find a mace can, but an officer said he had smelled a “faint odor” of it.
Victoria’s relative said the couple had a “rough” relationship and had been together for more than 30 years. Bishop had been physically and mentally abusive in the past, records allege. Another relative said they saw her injured “several” times over the years.
Victoria moved back in around August 2022 after she suspected Ellis cheated, police learned.
Deputy Prosecutors Veronica Gonzalez and Arturo Balcazar are assigned. Scott King is representing Bishop.
During a hearing early Monday, King argued Bishop had a heart condition that could have been fatal if he was pepper sprayed. King said Friday Victoria threw a brick shortly before the shooting.
Ellis was granted bail in 2023.
