A Memphis mother faces first-degree murder charges after fatally shooting a man she discovered hiding under her daughter’s bed, only to learn the teenager had invited him into the home against explicit warnings.

Fatal Confrontation in Walker Homes

Memphis police responded to a shooting in the Walker Homes neighborhood at 1:45 a.m. Thursday, where they discovered a man in the front yard suffering from a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Officers arrested Kendra Scott, 36, at the scene. According to court documents, Scott told investigators she found the man concealed beneath her child’s bed and stated plainly, “I did what I had to do.”

Scott faces charges of first-degree murder and employing a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony. The severity of the charges reflects prosecutors’ determination that the shooting did not qualify as justified self-defense under Tennessee law, despite Scott’s claims about protecting her child.

Daughter Had Invited Man Inside

The investigation revealed critical details that changed the nature of the case. The daughter told police she had invited the man into the house, contradicting the mother’s apparent belief that an intruder had broken in. The girl further disclosed that Scott had previously warned her in explicit terms that if she ever brought a boy into the home, Scott would “put a hole in his a**.” This prior threat became evidence prosecutors could use to establish premeditation or intent.

The timing and location of the fatal shot raise additional questions about the circumstances. The man was found in the front yard with a wound to the back of his head, suggesting he may have been leaving the residence when the shooting occurred. These details could prove crucial in determining whether Scott acted in defense of her child or in anger after discovering the unauthorized visit.

Legal Questions About Parental Defense

The case highlights the complex intersection of parental protection rights, castle doctrine laws, and criminal liability. While homeowners in Tennessee generally have broad authority to defend their property and family members from intruders, that protection typically requires a reasonable belief of immediate danger. The fact that the daughter had invited the man inside and that he was shot while apparently fleeing complicates any self-defense claim. Scott remains in custody as the case proceeds through the criminal justice system, facing a potential life sentence if convicted on the first-degree murder charge.