Woman Says Fatal Shooting Of Pastor Was Unintentional
Samantha Marion, a 42-year-old woman charged in the fatal shooting of Pastor Ricky Floyd outside a Memphis bar, claims the incident was accidental. The shooting occurred on March 12 outside Momma’s Bar and Kitchen during a dispute reportedly tied to a religious conversation. Marion, now facing a voluntary manslaughter charge, is currently out on a $100,000 bond. During a preliminary hearing, only one witness was called — Patrolman Cordell Boyd, who was the first to arrive at the scene.
Officer Boyd testified that Marion was visibly shaken when he encountered her, uttering phrases like “Lord help,” and admitting to being the shooter. He said Marion described how Floyd approached her during their encounter, prompting her to retrieve a firearm from her vehicle. She claimed to have held the weapon behind her back and warned Floyd multiple times to stay back before accidentally firing the shot after removing the safety.
The prosecution played Marion’s 911 call, in which she admitted to the shooting. Boyd also noted that although Marion claimed to feel threatened, she could have chosen to leave the area rather than retrieve a weapon. Marion’s attorney, John Keith Perry, argued that the hearing was only meant to establish probable cause and questioned the accuracy of the original affidavit, which omitted certain altercations that took place between Floyd and others that night.
According to Perry, the confrontation began when Floyd reportedly challenged Marion and another man, Steven Newsom, about their behavior and beliefs inside the bar. An argument escalated, culminating in Floyd allegedly knocking Newsom to the ground and throwing Marion’s phone before heading to his car. Surveillance footage and phone recordings show that Floyd later exited his vehicle and confronted Marion once again, after which he was shot and collapsed.
Following the hearing, the judge concluded there was enough evidence to establish probable cause, sending the case to a grand jury. Marion remains free pending further legal proceedings.