Two Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a crime-fighting patrol in Memphis fatally shot a man during a downtown pursuit early Sunday morning. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. when the guardsmen, part of a federal task force deployed by the Trump administration, responded to reports of gunshots. Authorities say the man, identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, turned toward the soldiers with a weapon before being shot. Johnson died at the scene despite attempts at first aid by National Guard medical specialists. No law enforcement officers were injured.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is investigating the circumstances of the shooting at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. The TBI is collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine the sequence of events leading to the shooting. The National Guard has been patrolling Memphis since October 2025 as part of a federal initiative to combat crime in the city, which has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. Memphis police report that overall crime and violent crime rates were declining in 2025 before the deployment began. Some local residents have welcomed the federal intervention, while Democratic officials have sued to block the deployment, arguing against the use of troops in law enforcement roles.
Mayor Paul Young described the shooting as an "unfortunate incident." The TBI has not yet released further details about the nature of the weapon Johnson was carrying or the specific actions that led to the guardsmen opening fire.