A Memphis woman is facing first-degree murder charges after authorities say she shot and killed a man she discovered hiding under her child’s bed early Saturday morning.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Kendra Scott. In addition to the murder charge, Scott faces a count of employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. She is currently being held without bond ahead of a scheduled court appearance on Monday.
Deputies responded to a shooting call at a residence in the 3000 block of Travis Road in Southwest Memphis. Upon arrival, emergency responders located a man lying dead near the front porch. The victim, identified by police as Rodderius Morton, was pronounced dead at the scene from a single gunshot wound to the back of his head.
According to police records, Scott admitted to the shooting immediately, telling investigators, “I saw a dude under my kids’ bed, and I did what I had to do.”
A neighbor interviewed by detectives reported hearing a loud bang before stepping outside onto his property. The witness stated he saw Morton’s body near the front porch and observed Scott standing in the front yard holding a handgun, repeating, “I shot him, I shot him.”
Investigators also interviewed a juvenile witness who was inside the home during the incident. The juvenile stated that Morton had been invited into the residence and entered through the back door at approximately 1:00 a.m.
According to the juvenile’s account, Scott returned home about 30 minutes later, knocking loudly on the front door and shouting, “Who’s at my house?”
The juvenile told detectives she was frightened to open the door because Scott was visibly angry and holding a firearm. The witness further alleged that Scott had previously threatened, “if I see a boy in the house, then I will put a hole in his a**.”
Once Scott was allowed inside, she discovered Morton hiding underneath a bed in the juvenile’s bedroom. A verbal altercation ensued as Morton attempted to leave the property, with Scott reportedly shouting, “Get out of my house, b****!”
The juvenile witness stated that the argument continued as Scott and Morton walked out onto the front porch, at which point she heard a single gunshot. Scott was detained by responding officers shortly after the encounter.
READ: Two US Troops Killed, One Missing In Jordan As Iranian Attacks Escalate Across Middle East
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
