A 36-year-old Memphis woman is facing first-degree murder charges after fatally shooting a man discovered hiding under her teenage daughter's bed. The incident occurred in the early hours of July 16 when the victim attempted to leave the residence.
The 1:40 a.m. shooting of Devin Morton
Memphis police responded to a report of gunfire around 1:40 a.m. on July 16, where they discovered 26-year-old Devin Morton unresponsive in a front yard.. According to the report, Morton had suffered a gunshot wound to the back of his head and was pronounced dead at the scene. The shooter, identified as Jasmine Scott, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm.
The sequence of events suggests a rapid escalation of tension. As reported, the teenage daughter of Jasmine Scott admitted to police that she had invited Devin Morton into the home between 1:20 and 1:30 a.m. The daughter reportedly feared her mother's reaction, recalling a previous warning from Jasmine Scott that she would shoot any boy found in the house.
Jasmine Scott's discovery and the fatal exit
The confrontation peaked when Jasmine Scott discovered Devin Morton hiding beneath her daughter's bed. While the source does not specify the exact dialogue during the discovery,it notes that Morton gathered his belongings and attempted to flee the premises. It was during this exit that a shot was fired, striking Devin Morton in the back of the head.
A neighbor provided a critical eyewitness account to authorities, stating they heard a gunshot and saw Jasmine Scott standing in the yard holding a weapon... The neighbor reported that Jasmine Scott explicitly stated, "I shot him, I shot him," while Devin Morton lay near the front porch. This admission, combined with the location of the wound, forms a central part of the prosecution's evidence.
The hurdle of proving premeditation for first-degree murder
Because Jasmine Scott has been charged with first-degree murder, prosecutors in Tennessee must prove that the killing was premeditated. This legal standard is significantly higher than manslaughter or second-degree murder, as it requires evidence that the defendant planned the killing, even if that planning occurred in a short window of time.
The defense is expected to lean into the "heat of passion" or self-defense arguments. This case mirrors a broader national tension regarding the "castle doctrine," which generally allows homeowners to use force to protect their property. However, the application of this doctrine is often contested when the victim is retreating from the home rather than attempting to enter or attack.
Whether Devin Morton posed a threat during his exit
Several critical details remain unverified in the available reports. Specifically, it is unknown if Devin Morton was armed or if he made any aggressive movements toward Jasmine Scott before he was shot. The report mentions he was shot in the back of the head as he left, which typically complicates a self-defense claim, but the full context of the struggle inside the bedroom remains unclear.
Furthermore, the source provides only the police and witness perspective; there has been no public statement from the legal representation of Jasmine Scott. Whether the daughter's testimony regarding her mother's prior threats will be used to establish a pattern of intent or a state of mind is a key point for the July 24 arraignment.
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