Key facts
- Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot a man during a pursuit in Memphis.
- The shooting occurred after the man turned toward the soldiers with a gun.
- The deceased has been identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson.
- The National Guard members were part of a federal deployment launched in October.
- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident.
Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot a man in Memphis on Sunday during a pursuit, according to authorities. The soldiers, part of a federal deployment launched last fall, opened fire after the man, identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, turned toward them with a gun.
The incident occurred around 4 a.m. as the guardsmen and local police responded to reports of gunshots. Johnson died at the scene despite attempts at first aid by National Guard medical specialists. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the circumstances of the shooting.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young described the event as "unfortunate" and stated he would await the TBI investigation's findings before commenting further. Federal troops have been patrolling Memphis since October, a deployment supported by Governor Bill Lee despite objections from local Democratic leaders. The Memphis Safe Task Force, convened by Trump, comprises federal and local agencies.
Memphis has grappled with high violent crime for years. While some crime categories saw decreases last year, local leaders have expressed skepticism about the necessity of federal intervention. In April, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that state and local Democratic officials lacked standing to block the federal troop deployment. Additionally, four Memphis residents filed a pending federal lawsuit in May, represented by the ACLU, challenging the task force's practices and alleging retaliation against individuals filming their operations.