Crime & Safety

Back-Flipping Former FBI Agent Takes Plea Deal To Avoid Jail Time

Chase Bishop, former FBI agent who accidentally discharged his weapon while performing a back flip, pleaded guilty to assault charges.

DENVER, CO – A former FBI agent who accidentally discharged his weapon in a crowded Denver bar and wounded a patron in a video that went viral was sentenced to 24 months of supervised probation after a plea deal, the Denver District Attorney's Office said.

Chase Bishop, 30, pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree assault, in exchange for the sentence, which he is allowed to complete out of state, the DA's office said.

“We believe that this agreement strikes an appropriate balance of seeking justice for the victim and ensuring that this type of incident does not happen again,” said Denver District Attorney Beth McCann.

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Thomas Reddington, a newly arrived Denver resident, was shot June 2 when Bishop's service revolver accidentally discharged.

Bishop, who is no longer employed by the FBI, was visiting Denver for a training from his Washington DC post.

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Around 12:45 a.m on June 2 a video showed Bishop dancing at Mile High Spirits in Denver, when he executed a high-energy dance move that ended in a back flip. At that point, Bishop's service weapon fell from his back belt holster and landed on the floor. When Bishop leaned over to pick it up, the gun discharged, firing into the crowd. Bishop was seen on the video "shrugging and smirking" as he quickly walked away.

Meanwhile, Reddington, was sitting at a picnic table in the crowd and heard a popping which he thought was "some idiot set[ing] off a fire cracker," Reddington told Good Morning America. The bullet struck the anterior tibial artery, Reddington's lawyer told the Denver Post. a Good Samaritan made a tourniquet out of a belt to keep him from bleeding out.

After the incident, Mile High Sprits offered Reddington "complimentary drinks forever," on social media.

Bishop turned himself in to Denver police June 12, more than a week later, and was released on a $1,000 bond, charged with assault. At some point, he parted ways with the FBI.

Related Dancing FBI Agent May Have Been Drinking: Denver Cops


Image via Denver District Attorney's Office


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