Full Breakdown
Memphis Mother Charged with First-Degree Murder After Shooting Man Found Under Daughter’s Bed
7/21/2026, 1:09:46 AM
Core Event
On the early morning of July 16, 2026, police responded to a shooting at the 3000 block of Travis Road in the Walker Homes neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee. Officers found an unresponsive male with a gunshot wound to the back of his head lying in the front yard. The victim, tentatively identified as Rodderius Morton, was pronounced dead at the scene. The homeowner, 36-year-old Kendra Scott, told investigators she “saw a dude under my kid’s bed” and “did what I had to do.” She was arrested at the scene and later charged with first-degree murder and unlawful use of a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. Scott is being held without bond.
Background & Context
According to the arrest affidavit, a juvenile residing in the home invited Morton into the house around 1:20 a.m. The child later testified that Scott had previously warned, “If she sees a boy in my house I will put a hole in his ass.” The affidavit does not indicate that Morton threatened anyone at the time he was discovered under the child’s bed. Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine permits lethal force only when an intruder is committing a violent felony inside the residence; legal analysts note that the known facts do not satisfy that standard.
Key Figures & Groups
- Kendra Scott – Mother of the child, charged with murder.
- Rodderius Morton – Male victim, age not released.
- Unnamed juvenile – Child who invited Morton; described by the attorney as a 13-year-old girl.
- Buddy Smith – Retired law-enforcement officer and firearms-self-defense trainer.
- Blake Ballin – Attorney representing Scott.
- Memphis Police Department (MPD) – Investigating agency that filed the affidavit.
Data & Statistics
- Time of incident: approximately 1:45 a.m.
- Location: 3000 block of Travis Road, Memphis, TN.
- Charges: first-degree murder; unlawful use of a firearm during a dangerous felony.
- Bond status: none set; defendant held without bond.
Why It Matters
The case tests the limits of Tennessee’s self-defense statutes, particularly the applicability of the Castle Doctrine in situations where an intruder is not actively threatening occupants. Community reactions are split, reflecting broader debates over homeowners’ rights to use lethal force versus the expectation to involve law enforcement.
Official Statements & Responses
Memphis police filed an affidavit detailing Scott’s statements and the sequence of events. Scott’s attorney, Blake Ballin, described the incident as “the worst nightmare of any parent” and emphasized that “one of the key questions in this case will be whether anyone could act rationally in this circumstance.” The court has scheduled Scott’s first arraignment for Friday, July 24, 2026.
Criticism & Opposition
Retired officer Buddy Smith said the known circumstances “would not qualify under Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine,” adding that “the affidavit does not allege that he threatened the mother or anyone else at that time.” A neighbor who heard the gunshot argued, “If it would’ve been me… I would’ve called the police… Therefore, you take him out, take him on to jail.” Another resident expressed sympathy for Scott, noting the distress of having a stranger in a child’s bedroom.
On-the-Ground Reports
Neighbors reported hearing a single gunshot from the front porch. The juvenile recounted that after Morton left the house, a shot was heard and Scott was seen standing in the yard with a gun, shouting, “I shot him, I shot him.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on how Morton entered the home: one account says he was invited by the child, while another suggests he came through the back door after an invitation. The victim’s exact age remains undisclosed, and the precise wording of Scott’s prior threat varies among reports.
Verbatim Quotes
- “saw a dude under my kids' bed, and I did what I had to do.” — Kendra Scott
- “Which means you’re allowed to protect the people in your residence when someone breaks in to commit a violent felony against you or someone in your house,” — Buddy Smith, retired law-enforcement officer
- “If it would’ve been me in that situation, and I had seen her on that doorbell camera, I would’ve called the police and had them sitting at my house when I got there. Therefore, you take him out, take him on to jail,” — Unnamed neighbor
- “One of the key questions in this case will be whether anyone could act rationally in this circumstance,” — Blake Ballin, attorney for Scott
- “I shot him, I shot him,” — Kendra Scott (as reported by police)
What’s Next
Scott is scheduled to appear in court on Monday for a bond hearing, with her first arraignment set for Friday, July 24, 2026. The case will proceed through the Shelby County criminal court system, where the applicability of self-defense statutes will be examined.
