Kendra Scott, a Tennessee mother, shot 20-year-old Rodderius Morton when she found him hiding under her daughter’s bed. Her daughter, as sources have suggested, invited Morton into the house shortly before Scott arrived at 1: 30 AM. Morton, whom Scott discovered, was led to the front porch of the house at gunpoint by the former. According to court documents, the unidentified daughter was terrified to see her mom allegedly holding a gun. Eventually, Scott found Morton hiding under her bed.

According to People, she said, “I saw a dude under my kid’s bed, and I did what I had to do.” Currently, her bond has been set at $100,00. She faces two charges, one of murder in the first degree, and a second charge for employing a firearm during a dangerous felony


Defense Attorney Blake Ballin has argued that the crime could not be premeditated and was driven by pure emotion. The NY Post reported that Scott had previously told her daughter that she would shoot any boy that her daughter brought home.

Morton was found dead with a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. The shell casing was retrieved from the porch as well. Scott expressed no regrets about the altercation when officers arrived at the scene 20 minutes later.

Given that the wound was to the back of the head, an argument has been made that Morton was on his way out and not an active threat. This would likely make Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine an inadmissible defence in the case, given that it only justifies an active threat as an excuse to use deadly force. It has been reported that Morton issued no active threat to Scott. However, some online commentators have pointed out that finding an unknown man with a minor inside a house is sound grounds for deadly force.

While Defence Attorney Ballin agrees that there might be a self-defence angle to the story, voluntary manslaughter could be a charge that is levelled at Scott, all the same.

Reportage has also noted that Morton had intellectual disabilities and was a former special education student from Memphis. Those close to Morton described him as “sweet and respectful”. Scott was also described as being a “real nice lady” by her neighbour, Gloria Milon. This has intensified the reflection on the tragic event, as the community reels from the murder. These conversations have also spilled over to the internet, with users debating whether the mother was in the right or had overreacted.

Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.