Tennessee National Guard Members Fatally Shoot Armed Man During Downtown Memphis Pursuit
MEMPHIS — Two Tennessee National Guard soldiers fatally shot a man early Saturday during a pursuit in downtown Memphis, marking the third fatal shooting by a member of a federal anti-crime task force that has drawn sharp political divides in the city.
Officials said the shooting occurred just before 4 a.m. local time on July 5 after Memphis police responded to a report of shots fired. Officers arriving at the scene saw several people leaving and observed an armed male carrying a handgun, according to a statement from the Memphis Police Department provided to The Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY Network.
The man — later identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson — fled on foot. Police and members of the Tennessee National Guard who were assigned to the area under the Memphis Safe Task Force gave chase. During the pursuit, Johnson turned toward the Guard members with his weapon, police said.
“For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated, resulting in two National Guard soldiers firing upon Johnson, striking and killing him,” the TBI said in a statement. “No law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident.”
Johnson had “reportedly fired shots in the area,” according to the TBI. Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Darrin Haas said two Guard medics attempted to administer first aid, but Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy confirmed to The Commercial Appeal that two Guard members were involved and said he asked the TBI to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.
Court records indicate Johnson had no prior criminal record in Shelby County. An address linked to him in Franklin County, Ohio, also showed no criminal charges. A search of federal court records in Tennessee and Ohio turned up no charges against Johnson, though Davidson County records show he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor traffic violations in 2023. In 2024, he was charged with driving with a suspended license in Wilson County, Tennessee. After failing to appear for a January 2025 hearing, a warrant was issued. He was later arrested by Mt. Juliet police in May and released on $4,500 bond, with a hearing set for July 8.
The shooting is the fourth involving a member of the Memphis Safe Task Force and the third fatal one. In May, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent fatally shot a 41-year-old man, and a week later, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent shot and killed a 25-year-old man.
The task force was established by the Trump administration and deployed Guard troops and federal agents to Democratic-led cities including Memphis, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Portland last year. The administration cited crime and protests as justifications, despite pushback from local leaders.
The Guard has been operating in Memphis since October 2025. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, welcomed the federal intervention, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, said he did not support deploying the Guard. Guardsmen in military fatigues have regularly been seen patrolling downtown, directing traffic and securing crime scene perimeters.
The deployment has been challenged in court. A group of Democratic officials from local and state levels filed a lawsuit, and a Davidson County Chancery Court judge initially granted a temporary injunction ordering the Guard to withdraw. That injunction was later struck down by a panel of appellate judges, and the case has since stalled.
The latest shooting is certain to reignite debate over the federal presence in Memphis. Critics argue the task force operates with limited local oversight and has escalated violence; supporters say it is a necessary tool to combat rising crime. The TBI continues its investigation.
Contributing: N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY