Memphis police responded to a shooting at approximately 1:50 a.m. Thursday in the 3000 block of Travis Road, where officers discovered a male with a gunshot wound who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kendra Scott, 36, was arrested at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.
According to court documents, Scott told police she came home and “saw a dude under” her 13-year-old daughter’s bed, stating, “I did what I had to do.” The affidavit indicates the gunshot wound was in the back of the male’s head, and the victim—identified as Morton—was found outside the home.
Scott’s daughter allowed Scott inside, where Scott reportedly discovered Morton hiding under the bed. Scott allegedly screamed at Morton, “Get out of my house, bitch,” before following him out the front door. A neighbor later told police he heard a gunshot after Scott exited the home and saw Scott standing by the body holding the gun, admitting, “I shot him, I shot him.”
Police recovered one spent shell casing on the front porch and a Smith & Wesson black handgun.
Scott’s lawyer, Blake Ballin, described the incident as starting with “the worst nightmare of any parent of a 13-year-old girl” and ending in tragedy, noting that “one of the key questions in this case will be whether anyone could act rationally in this circumstance.”
Retired law enforcement officer Buddy Smith, who is also a firearm self-defense trainer, stated under Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine, what happened would not qualify as self-defense because there was no threat to Scott or anyone else at the time.
Area resident Gloria Milon expressed sympathy for Scott, saying, “She seemed like a real nice lady.” A neighbor who did not wish to be identified told police they would have called law enforcement immediately if they were in Scott’s situation.
Scott’s bond was set at $100,000 with her next court date scheduled for August 3. Jail records indicate she remained behind bars as of Tuesday.
