Memphis Man, 69, Charged With Murder After Shooting Woman During Heated Argument Over Religion

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — A heated argument over religion at a Memphis home ended in tragedy when a 69-year-old man fatally shot a woman with a shotgun after she poured a drink on him and struck him, according to police.

The suspect, Calvin Johnson Sr., has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of 45-year-old Tamara Perkins, who died from a gunshot wound to her abdomen.

Argument Turns Deadly

The incident occurred Tuesday at a residence on the 3100 block of Morningside Street, where Johnson, Perkins, and a third person were drinking. According to the witness, tensions escalated after Perkins slapped Johnson on the head and poured a drink on him during a religious debate.

Police say Johnson then retreated briefly to his bedroom, returned with a double-barrel shotgun, and fired a fatal shot into Perkins’ stomach. The witness confirmed Perkins was unarmed and made no threats before the shooting.

Suspect’s Confession

When officers arrived, they found Perkins unresponsive next to the shotgun. Johnson allegedly told officers at the scene, “I shot her.”

Later, during questioning, he reportedly repeated phrases including “I killed her” and “I’m in trouble, ain’t I?” before refusing to answer further questions. At one point, Johnson claimed Perkins “came at me and she a big woman.”

Court Proceedings

Perkins was rushed to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Johnson was taken into custody without further incident.

Court records show Johnson is scheduled for a bail hearing Monday and another court appearance Thursday.

The shocking case has left a Memphis neighborhood shaken and raised questions about how a dispute over personal beliefs escalated into deadly violence. For more breaking updates on community crime and justice, follow ChicagoMusicGuide.com.