Woman charged with murder in shooting that left one dead, one injured

One person is dead and another injured after a domestic shooting at Woodland Hills apartments early Monday morning.

Tiffany R. Upshaw, 24, of Troy, has been charged with murder and is being held on a $100,000 bond, according to Troy Police Department spokesperson Lt. Bryan Weed.

Melvin Kenyetta Scott, 29, of Troy, was pronounced dead at the scene, said TPD Chief Jimmy Ennis.

The woman renting the apartment where the shooting happened said she received a call from Upshaw, her sister, Sunday night asking if she and her baby could come sleep there because she was afraid of the baby’s father.

Just before the shooting happened about 6:10 a.m., the renter left to go to school.

“I told my boyfriend not to leave because I thought something might happen,” she said.

The renter feels her sister fired a gun to protect herself.

“My boyfriend said, ‘You know your sister had to defend herself,’” the renter said. “I believe that. It’s just hard to think about what happened.”

Upshaw’s child was not harmed, but the renter’s boyfriend was shot in the hand, she said. The renter also said both Upshaw and Scott had been armed with guns.

“I hate that my nephew had to see that,” the renter said. “He’s just three.”

Police did not reveal if both guns were fired, or if they felt Upshaw shot in self defense. Police did release information that Upshaw and Scott were in a dating relationship.

The shooting is still under investigation. Monday morning about 10:30, a crime scene investigator and detectives were still on scene. There was a bullet hole in the apartment’s window and evidence markers and crime scene tape leading out the door and onto the front lawn.

Robby Morrow manages the apartment complex and said there has been never been any crime of this magnitude there before.

“There’s always a little fussing going on, like anywhere,” Morrow said. “But I was surprised to get this call. Especially with this building.”

According to the lease agreement for the property, the renters will likely have to move out. Morrow said the lease states that any crime committed on the property, whether by renter or guest, leads to the lease being terminated.