Hour-Long Wait Preceded Deadly Domestic Shooting
Knox County authorities have charged 20-year-old Dsani Badgett with first-degree murder following what investigators describe as a calculated confrontation that ended with the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, Stephen Morgan. Court documents reveal that Badgett allegedly retrieved a firearm from their bedroom and sat waiting for approximately an hour until Morgan returned home from work on Saturday, May 3, before confronting him about messages she discovered indicating he was unfaithful, according to IBTimes.
The incident occurred at the couple’s residence on Weaver Hollow Way in North Knox County, with deputies responding to the scene around 5:40 p.m. after Badgett called authorities. When officers arrived, they found Badgett in the driveway screaming for help and subsequently discovered Morgan unresponsive in the living room with a gunshot wound to his upper chest. Emergency personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, and Badgett was taken into custody, where she now faces a first-degree murder charge.
Timeline of Events Detailed in Police Report
According to investigators, the circumstances leading to the shooting began when Morgan, whose own phone was broken, used Badgett’s device and logged into his Yahoo account. Badgett later discovered messages on her phone that she claimed revealed Morgan was involved with someone else, prompting her to take action that ultimately led to the fatal confrontation, as detailed in reports from the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
After discovering the messages, Badgett told investigators she retrieved a gun from the nightstand in their bedroom and waited on the couch for Morgan to return from work. When he arrived home, she confronted him while holding the weapon, making demands regarding their relationship. Deputies reported that Badgett admitted to racking the gun multiple times to demonstrate it was loaded, creating a tense standoff that ultimately escalated when Morgan allegedly attempted to grab the firearm from her.
Fatal Struggle Over Weapon
The confrontation turned deadly when, according to Badgett’s statement to authorities, Morgan attempted to take the gun from her hands. During this struggle, she discharged the weapon, striking Morgan in the left hand and upper chest/armpit area, according to the criminal complaint.
“The argument got escalated and Mr. Morgan attempted to grab the gun from Ms. Badgett and at that time Ms. Badgett discharged the firearm,” detectives wrote in their report, noting that the victim sustained gunshot wounds to both his hand and chest. This sequence of events will likely be central to both prosecution and defense strategies as the case moves forward through the legal system, with prosecutors potentially arguing that the hour-long wait demonstrates premeditation while the defense may focus on the final moments of the confrontation.
Legal Implications of First-Degree Charge
The first-degree murder charge filed against Badgett carries significant legal implications in Tennessee. Under state law, first-degree murder is defined as a premeditated and intentional killing, with potential penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty upon conviction, though it remains unclear whether prosecutors will pursue capital punishment in this case.
Legal experts note that the alleged hour-long wait with the firearm may factor heavily into the prosecution’s argument regarding premeditation, a key element necessary to sustain a first-degree murder charge. If convicted of first-degree murder, Badgett would face a minimum sentence of life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after serving 51 years, according to Tennessee sentencing guidelines.
Domestic Violence Patterns and Prevention
While not commenting specifically on the Badgett case, domestic violence prevention experts emphasize that access to firearms significantly increases the lethality risk in volatile relationship situations. Research consistently shows that the presence of a gun in domestic violence situations increases the risk of homicide by 500%, according to national statistics from domestic violence prevention organizations.
Community advocates stress the importance of recognizing warning signs and utilizing available resources before situations escalate to violence. The Knox County area offers multiple services for individuals experiencing relationship difficulties, including counseling, legal assistance, and emergency shelter options through various nonprofit organizations dedicated to preventing domestic violence and supporting survivors.
