Kendra Scott, a 36-year-old Memphis resident, has been charged with first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony following the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Rodderius Morton. The incident occurred in the early hours of July 16, when authorities say Scott discovered Morton in her 13-year-old daughter’s bedroom.
"I saw a dude under my kid’s bed. I did what I had to do." — Kendra Scott, Defendant
Memphis police responded to a shooting call in the 3000 block of Travis Road shortly before 2 a.m. Upon arrival, officers found Morton unresponsive in the front yard with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators took Scott into custody after an initial interview.
According to an arrest affidavit, Scott told police that she had returned home and found Morton under her daughter’s bed. She reportedly stated, "I saw a dude under my kid’s bed," and added, "I did what I had to do." A neighbor informed police that they heard a gunshot and subsequently saw Scott near Morton’s body in the front yard, holding a firearm and saying, "I shot him, I shot him."
Further details emerged from a juvenile who was present in the home at the time of the incident. The juvenile told investigators that Morton had been invited into the residence around 1 a.m. or shortly thereafter. Approximately 30 minutes later, Scott arrived, began knocking loudly on the door, and reportedly yelled, "Who’s at my house?" The juvenile expressed fear of Scott, stating that she allegedly had a firearm and had previously threatened to "put a hole" in any boy she found inside the home. The juvenile's account indicates that Morton was discovered hiding under the bed and then left the home before a gunshot was heard. Police confirmed that Morton was not armed at the time of the shooting.
Scott initially remained in custody without bond. However, during a subsequent court appearance, a judge set her bond at $100,000. Her next court date is scheduled for August 3. Blake Ballin, Scott’s attorney, described the case as beginning with "a parent’s worst fear involving a child." Ballin emphasized that a central question in the legal proceedings would be whether an individual could act rationally under the specific circumstances described in the case, particularly given the involvement of a 13-year-old girl.
The incident has ignited discussion surrounding Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine, a law that permits individuals to use force, including deadly force, when they face threats inside their homes. Retired law enforcement officer and firearm self-defense trainer Buddy Smith commented on the relevance of the allegations in the affidavit to the application of such protections. Smith noted that the affidavit does not allege Morton threatened Scott or anyone else at the time of the shooting, suggesting that the court and potentially a jury would consider whether there was a violent threat or sufficient justification for deadly force.
Community reactions to the shooting have been varied. Some neighbors expressed understanding for a parent's concern upon finding an unknown individual in a child’s room, while others suggested that contacting law enforcement would have been the appropriate first step.
Kendra Scott remains charged, and the allegations against her have not been proven in court. The legal proceedings are expected to thoroughly examine the circumstances leading to Morton's death and the applicability of self-defense statutes in this specific case.
