Tennessee National Guard troops fatally shoot man during Memphis pursuit

Tennessee National Guard troops fatally shoot man during Memphis pursuit

Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot a man in downtown Memphis early Sunday following a foot pursuit that began after reports of gunfire. The incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m. Local time.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the deceased as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson. According to the Memphis Police Department, local officers were pursuing an armed man when National Guard soldiers assigned to the area joined the chase. The police department stated that the situation escalated when Johnson turned toward the National Guard members while holding a handgun, prompting the soldiers to discharge their weapons. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

While the city's police department provided an account of the moments leading up to the shooting, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation—which has launched an independent investigation at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy—noted that the circumstances leading to the encounter remain under investigation. The state bureau is currently collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine the series of events. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident. Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, a spokesperson for the National Guard, stated that two medical specialists from the Guard attempted to provide first aid to Johnson after the shooting.

The National Guard members involved in the pursuit are part of a troop deployment that began in October as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force. The task force was convened by President Donald Trump to address violent crime in the city and includes various federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These troops are operating under the authority of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.

The presence of these troops has been a point of contention. Local leaders, including Mayor Paul Young, have questioned the necessity of the federal intervention. Regarding the Sunday incident, Mayor Young described the event as an unfortunate incident and indicated he would await the findings of the state investigation before providing further comment.

The deployment has faced significant legal scrutiny. Democratic officials previously challenged the mission, arguing it violated the state constitution. Although a judge initially issued a temporary injunction to halt the deployment, a state appeals court overturned that ruling in April, allowing the mission to continue. Separately, in May, four Memphis residents filed a federal lawsuit against the task force. Represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the plaintiffs allege that task force members have engaged in retaliatory behavior against individuals attempting to film their operations, including following residents and appearing at their homes.

Tyrin Johnson’s family has expressed disbelief regarding the circumstances of his death. His cousin, Terracle Nelson, stated that Johnson, who resided in Nashville, worked in construction and attended university. She noted that Johnson had recently become a father. Nelson reported that family members were informed Johnson had been shot twice in the chest. I just want to know, how they shot a 20-year-old twice in the chest, he hadn't harmed anyone, Nelson said, via the Associated Press.

The deployment cost nearly half a billion dollars through the end of December and are expected to cost taxpayers more than $1 billion this year, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.