Nearly a year after a brutal Whitehaven shooting left a woman clinging to life, Memphis police say they finally have the alleged gunman behind bars.
Investigators say the victim was shot multiple times during a February 2025 incident at her home, then rushed to Regional One in critical condition. After months of case work and a grand jury review, the criminal charges have now moved into open court, with the defendant set for another hearing on Thursday morning.
Officials have identified the suspect as 55-year-old Kendall Smith, who is charged with attempted first-degree murder, domestic assault, and a weapons offense, according to Action News 5. Court records cited by the station show a grand jury indicted Smith on January 13, and he was formally booked on January 21. He remains in the Shelby County Jail on a $675,000 bond. Prosecutors say the charges trace back to a February 21, 2025, shooting in the Whitehaven neighborhood that left his girlfriend hospitalized.
What Police Allege
According to the arrest affidavit, Smith showed up at his girlfriend’s home intoxicated and quickly became, in the affidavit’s words, "loud, irate and belligerent." The document states he grabbed a pistol, followed the woman into a bedroom, and opened fire. The victim’s granddaughter told officers she heard roughly six to seven shots. Police say the woman suffered serious injuries and was taken to Regional One for treatment, while Smith allegedly fled before officers reached the scene.
Legal Implications
Prosecutors have charged Smith with attempted first-degree murder, along with possessing or using a firearm during the commission of a dangerous felony, which Tennessee law treats as a separate crime. The state’s criminal-attempt statute lays out what prosecutors must prove to secure an attempted murder conviction, and a different statute covers penalties for having or using a gun during that attempted killing. Those laws are spelled out in Tennessee Code Annotated 39-12-101, available via FindLaw, and 39-17-1324, which can be found on Justia.
What Happens Next
For now, Smith is staying in the Shelby County detention system while prosecutors get their case in order. The county’s inmate lookup and court administration handle his booking records and hearing schedule as the case moves forward. The next pretrial court date is expected to push the case through basic arraignment or other preliminary steps, where prosecutors must formally outline the evidence they intend to present. Beyond the affidavit and court filings already cited in reporting, investigators have not issued any further public statements.
