Tennessee National Guard Involved in Fatal Shooting During Memphis Patrol

Two Tennessee National Guard members, part of a federal task force, shot a man in Memphis on Sunday. The man allegedly turned towards the soldiers with a gun while fleeing. This task force, created by President Donald Trump, was established to address crime in cities.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, deployed the Guard to support this federal effort. The guardsmen responded to gunshot reports with local police around 4 a.m. The city’s police department stated the gunman turned his weapon towards the soldiers, leading them to open fire.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) identified the deceased as Tyrin Johnson, 20. The TBI is investigating the shooting circumstances. No officers were injured. National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid on Johnson, who died at the scene.

“Guard spokesperson Lt. Col Darrin Haas confirmed Johnson was shot,” said in a statement.

Terracle Nelson, Johnson’s cousin, mentioned the family was informed of two shots to the chest. The authorities gave no immediate details on shots fired. Johnson’s grandfather, Evaniel, highlighted his grandson’s potential and awaited investigative findings and any shooting video.

I believed in him, and he still had so much life ahead of him, Johnson stated. 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 Paul Young, awaiting the investigation results, described the event as “unfortunate.” Online federal and state court records showed no cases against Johnson. Local records revealed minor traffic violations in Memphis and Nashville.

Since October, federal troops have patrolled Memphis, despite Young’s objections. This Memphis Safe Task Force, set by Trump, includes federal and local agencies. It reported over 10,000 arrests by June, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

TBI data records at least four task force officer-involved shootings, two in May, not involving National Guard weapon discharge. The October shooting’s agency involvement was unspecified by TBI. No confirmation was given if Sunday’s incident was the first Guard weapon use in Memphis.

Memphis, with a population exceeding 600,000, faces a high rate of violent crime. Both political parties reported some crime reduction last year before federal deployment. In April, the Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled Democratic state and local officials couldn’t block federal troop deployment in Memphis.

Brook is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative, which places journalists in local newsrooms to cover underreported issues.