Tennessee Mother Charged with Murder After Shooting Intruder

A mother from Tennessee is facing first-degree murder charges following the fatal shooting of a man who was found hiding under her 13-year-old daughter’s bed, according to police.

Kendra Scott was taken into custody early Thursday morning after the body of a 20-year-old man was discovered outside his home in Memphis, with a gunshot wound to the back of his head, as stated in an arrest affidavit.

Her attorney described the situation as “a parent of a 13-year-old girl’s worst nightmare.”

The 36-year-old mother claimed that upon returning home, she “saw a man under the children’s bed.” She said, “I did what I had to do,” as per the affidavit.

The incident unfolded after Scott’s daughter invited a man named Rodelius Morton to their home around 1 a.m. Scott returned about 30 minutes later, furious, and was heard banging on the front door, demanding to know, “Who’s in my house?”

This led to her daughter feeling scared when she noticed her mother might be armed.

Scott reportedly declared, “If I ever see a boy in my house, I’m going to punch a hole in his butt,” according to court documents.

After being let inside by Morton, Scott found him hiding under the bed. She yelled at him to leave her house before following him outside. That’s when her daughter and a neighbor reportedly heard gunshots.

A neighbor later recounted that when he stepped outside, he saw Scott standing near the man’s body, gun in hand, admitting, “I shot him, I shot him.”

Police recovered a spent shell casing and a black Smith & Wesson handgun from the porch. Scott was brought in for questioning and subsequently charged with first-degree murder and the use of a firearm during a dangerous felony.

Her attorney indicated that she remains in custody pending a court appearance, where bond will be set. “This case began with the worst nightmare of any parent of a 13-year-old girl,” Ballin mentioned, emphasizing the tragic turn of events.

Looking at the legal implications, there are questions about whether Scott’s actions were justified under the circumstances. A former law enforcement officer stated that the known details of Scott’s case might not qualify for protections provided by Tennessee’s castle doctrine, which allows for the use of reasonable force against an intruder.

In this scenario, there aren’t allegations that Morton threatened anyone, which could prove significant in court.

The case has sparked a heated debate online, with opinions sharply divided. Some people argue that the shooting was justified while others believe Scott went too far. Neighbors also share mixed feelings about the incident.

One nearby resident expressed sympathy but noted, “It hurt that someone was there with her little girl.” Meanwhile, another suggested that Scott should have called the police instead of resorting to violence, stating, “If I was in that situation…I would have called the police.”