A Tennessee mother has been charged with first-degree murder after a shocking late-night discovery inside her home ended in tragedy.

Police in Memphis say 36-year-old Kendra Scott fatally shot a man after finding him hiding under her 13-year-old daughter’s bed in the early hours of July 16. According to an arrest affidavit, officers responding to the scene found 20-year-old Rodderius Morton lying in the front yard with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Scott was arrested and is now facing charges of first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony.

Investigators say Scott told officers she returned home and discovered “a dude under my kid’s bed,” later adding, “I did what I had to do.” According to court documents, Scott’s daughter told police she had invited Morton into the house shortly before her mother arrived home.

The girl also told investigators she was frightened because her mother had previously warned her not to bring boys into the house. Police allege that after Scott found Morton hiding beneath the bed, the pair argued before he left the home and was shot outside. A neighbor also reportedly told officers they heard a gunshot before seeing Scott standing nearby with a firearm.

The case has sparked fierce debate online, with many expressing sympathy for a mother confronted with what her attorney described as “the worst nightmare of any parent of a 13-year-old girl.”

Kendra Scott has been charged with murder. Credit / YouTube
Her lawyer has argued that an important question will be whether anyone could be expected to act rationally in such circumstances.

Others, however, have pointed out that the criminal charges suggest prosecutors believe the evidence does not support a legal justification for the shooting. Scott is being held without bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Tennessee’s Castle Doctrine states that an individual can protect the people inside their residence when a suspect gets into their home to commit a felony. However, retired law enforcement officer and firearm self-defense trainer Buddy Smith shared his belief that Scott’s case might not fall under its protection, per Action News 5.

“The affidavit does not allege that he threatened the mother or anyone else at that time, and those alleged facts will likely be important issues for the court, and ultimately a jury,” Smith said.

Meanwhile, Scott’s neighbors appeared to be divided on the incident. Gloria Milon, who lives in the area, sympathized with Scott’s position, saying: “She seemed like a real nice lady. All I can say is, that hurts that someone was in there with one of her little girls.”

According to Action News 5, another neighbor – who asked not to be identified – said Scott should have called police instead.

“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,” the neighbor said.