Gun “Racked Several Times” Before Fatal Shooting

Chilling details have emerged in court documents regarding the moments before 20-year-old Dsani Badgett allegedly shot and killed her boyfriend Stephen Morgan in their Knox County home. According to investigators, Badgett admitted to “racking the gun several times to show him it was loaded” during a confrontation over alleged infidelity she discovered through his Yahoo account, creating an intimidating display before the firearm discharged fatally wounding Morgan, according to WBIR.

The incident occurred Saturday evening at the couple’s Weaver Hollow Way residence, with Knox County Sheriff’s deputies responding around 5:40 p.m. after Badgett called for help. When officers arrived, they found Morgan unresponsive on the living room floor with gunshot wounds to his hand and chest. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene. Badgett has since been charged with first-degree murder and remains in custody at the Roger D. Wilson Detention Center with bail set at $300,000 pending a Tuesday court hearing.

Firearms Experts Describe Intimidation Tactic

The action of repeatedly “racking” a firearm—pulling back and releasing the slide to chamber a round—creates both visual and auditory intimidation, according to firearms instructors. This action, when performed repeatedly as alleged in the Badgett case, serves no functional purpose if the weapon is already loaded and instead typically indicates an attempt to frighten or threaten the other person.

“Racking a loaded semi-automatic handgun multiple times is not necessary for operation and can actually eject unfired rounds,” explains firearms safety instructor Robert Langley, who is not connected to the case. “When someone repeatedly racks a firearm during a confrontation, it’s generally considered a threatening gesture meant to emphasize the presence of the weapon.” This technical context helps illuminate the alleged actions described in the police report and their potential significance to prosecutors building a case around Badgett’s intent.

Legal Implications of Threatening Gestures

Criminal law experts note that the alleged act of racking the firearm repeatedly could prove significant in establishing the mindset element required for a first-degree murder conviction. Tennessee law requires prosecutors to prove premeditation and intent for first-degree murder charges, with threatening behaviors often used as evidence of deliberate action rather than a heat-of-the-moment response.

“Actions that demonstrate threat or intimidation prior to a shooting can be persuasive evidence in establishing intent,” notes former prosecutor Sandra Mitchell, who now works as a legal analyst and is not involved in this case. “Prosecutors will likely point to the reported weapon manipulation as indication that the defendant was deliberately creating a threatening situation rather than acting in self-defense.” Mitchell adds that Tennessee’s legal threshold for premeditation can be satisfied even if the planning occurred only moments before the act.

Relationship Dynamics and Confrontation Escalation

Court documents describe a relationship dynamic that deteriorated rapidly following Badgett’s discovery of messages on Morgan’s Yahoo account that allegedly indicated infidelity. According to IBTimes, Badgett told investigators she confronted Morgan about the messages while making “demands” regarding their relationship situation, creating a confrontational atmosphere that escalated to violence.

Domestic violence intervention specialists note that confrontations involving accusations of infidelity are among the most volatile relationship conflicts, particularly when weapons are involved. “When someone introduces a firearm into an emotionally charged confrontation about perceived betrayal, the risk of deadly violence increases exponentially,” explains Dr. Rachel Torres, a psychologist specializing in relationship conflict who has no connection to this specific case.

Investigation Continues as Community Reacts

As the investigation continues, community members in the Weaver Hollow Way neighborhood expressed shock at the violent incident in what they described as a typically quiet area. Local residents speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity described the couple as relatively new to the neighborhood, having moved in within the past year, though few reported having significant interactions with either Morgan or Badgett.

The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the ongoing investigation, including whether there had been previous domestic disturbance calls to the residence. Public records searches have not revealed prior arrests for either individual in Knox County, though a comprehensive background investigation will likely be part of the prosecution’s case preparation as court proceedings move forward with the scheduled Tuesday bond hearing.