In a tragic turn of events that unfolded on April 3, 2017, a young woman's life was cut short in Memphis, Tennessee. Lisa Peoples, a 27-year-old female, was found deceased in the 3500 block of Kings Arms Street in the Fox Meadows area. Her body was discovered lying face down in the grass near a driveway, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. The violence of the act was stark, with reports indicating she had been shot more than half a dozen times.
The day that ended in her death had
begun with a measure of hope for safety. Earlier on that same day, Peoples had taken a significant step to protect herself by obtaining an order of protection against her husband, Mario Scales, who was 30 years old at the time. This legal safeguard, tragically, did not prevent the fatal encounter that occurred around 9 p.m. that evening.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing Scales fleeing with a rifle in his possession. Law enforcement officers responding to the incident located him hiding in some nearby bushes in the 3500 block of Bishops Gate Drive. An AK-47 assault rifle was also recovered from the vicinity. Following his apprehension, Scales reportedly admitted to police that he had shot his wife. His stated motive was a belief that she was involved with another man.
In the aftermath of the tragic event, the legal process moved forward. In September 2017, a grand jury indicted Mario Scales on first-degree murder charges in connection with his wife's death. He was subsequently held without bond at the Shelby County Jail. The case was set to be handled by the Assistant District Attorney, Omar Malik. The indictment marked a formal step towards seeking justice for Lisa Peoples, a young mother whose life was violently ended.
