Two members of the Tennessee National Guard fatally shot an armed man during a foot pursuit in downtown Memphis early Sunday while assisting local law enforcement as part of a federally backed crime-fighting operation, authorities said.
The shooting occurred around 4 a.m. after National Guard personnel and Memphis police responded to reports of gunfire. According to the Memphis Police Department, officers began chasing a man who fled on foot while carrying a firearm. Authorities said the two guardsmen fired after the suspect turned toward them while holding the weapon.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) identified the man as Tyrin Johnson, 20, and said it has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No law enforcement officers were injured.
National Guard medics attempted lifesaving aid
According to National Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, Johnson died at the scene despite emergency treatment provided by two National Guard medical specialists immediately after the shooting.
Johnson’s cousin, Terracle Nelson, said authorities informed relatives that the 20-year-old had been shot twice in the chest. Officials did not immediately respond to questions regarding the number of rounds fired, and the TBI declined to comment on Nelson’s account while the investigation remains ongoing.
Family remembers victim’s future plans
Johnson’s grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, described his grandson as a young father who had attended classes at Tennessee State University and was preparing to help lead the family’s construction business.
He also said Johnson was passionate about music and urged patience until investigators complete their review.
“I believed in him, and I know he still had so much life ahead of him,” Johnson said. “The heartbreaking reality is that he will never have the chance to enjoy what we were building together. That is a pain no grandparent should ever have to endure.”
Mayor awaits findings of state investigation
Memphis Mayor Paul Young described the shooting as an “unfortunate incident” and said he would withhold further comment until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation completes its review, according to a statement released by mayoral spokesperson Penelope Huston.
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Court records reviewed Sunday showed no federal or state criminal cases involving Johnson. Records in Memphis and Nashville indicated he had received several minor traffic citations.
Federal task force remains under scrutiny
The National Guard members involved in the shooting were assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force, a multi-agency operation established by President Donald Trump after he ordered the deployment of federal personnel to several cities that he argued were experiencing high crime rates. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee later authorized National Guard support for the initiative.
Federal personnel have patrolled Memphis since October despite opposition from Mayor Young, who argued against the deployment.
According to the U.S. Marshals Service, the task force had made more than 10,000 arrests as of June.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the task force has been associated with at least four officer-involved shootings. Two incidents in May did not involve National Guard personnel firing their weapons, while another shooting occurred in October, although investigators did not specify which agencies were involved.
Neither the TBI nor the Tennessee National Guard immediately confirmed whether Sunday’s incident marked the first time National Guard members had discharged their weapons since joining the Memphis operation.
Crime remains central issue in Memphis
Memphis, a city of more than 600,000 residents, has long struggled with elevated levels of violent crime, including homicides, assaults and carjackings.
State and local officials from both major political parties have reported declines in several categories of violent crime over the past year, a trend that began before the federal deployment and mirrored broader reductions reported in several U.S. cities.
In April, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled that state and local Democratic officials lacked legal standing to block the deployment of federal troops in Memphis, allowing the operation to continue.
Article Topics: Memphis | Tennessee National Guard | Officer-Involved Shooting | Tennessee Bureau of Investigation | Donald Trump | Memphis Safe Task Force | Public Safety | Crime
This report is based on reporting by The Associated Press.
