Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot a man early Sunday morning in downtown Memphis during a foot pursuit, authorities said, marking a significant incident involving the controversial federal troop deployment that has drawn scrutiny over its constitutional authority and operational practices.
The shooting occurred around 4 a.m. in the area of Ida B. Wells Avenue and Union Avenue when Memphis police officers and National Guard soldiers responded to reports of gunshots. Police say they observed an armed man carrying a handgun and initiated a pursuit after he fled on foot. Soldiers assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force, which is stationed nearby, joined the chase.
The man, identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, allegedly turned toward the National Guard members with his weapon during the pursuit. The soldiers then discharged their weapons, striking Johnson. He was pronounced dead at the scene after two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid. No law enforcement officers were injured in the encounter.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Investigators are working independently to determine the circumstances leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young called the incident “an unfortunate occurrence” and said he would await the results of the TBI investigation before making further comments. The mayor had previously opposed the deployment of National Guard troops to the city, though he did not request their removal.
The shooting raises renewed questions about the Memphis Safe Task Force, the federal initiative launched by President Trump in September to combat crime in Memphis. The task force includes National Guard soldiers, federal agents, and local law enforcement officers and has made thousands of arrests since beginning operations in October.
The deployment has been deeply contentious. Democratic state and local officials sued to block the use of National Guard troops, arguing that Governor Bill Lee’s decision to deploy them violated the Tennessee Constitution’s limits on when and how a governor can mobilize military forces. A Tennessee judge sided with those officials in November, issuing a temporary injunction to block the deployment. However, a state appeals court overturned that injunction in April, allowing the operation to continue.
The lawsuit argued that the Tennessee Constitution permits the Guard to be deployed only in circumstances of rebellion or invasion, and even then requires action by state lawmakers. Lee’s administration countered that the governor, as commander-in-chief, has the authority to deploy the Guard in response to what it characterized as a grave emergency posed by violent crime.
This is the third fatal shooting involving a member of the Memphis Safe Task Force. In May, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent assigned to the task force fatally shot Darrin Pigram, and a week later, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent killed Jonah Neal.
The incident underscores the broader debate surrounding the federal task force’s presence in Memphis. Critics have raised concerns about its impact on immigrant and minority communities, documenting that the vast majority of immigration-related arrests stem from routine traffic stops rather than investigations into violent crime. Others have reported significant declines in business activity and school attendance in affected neighborhoods, citing fear and concern among residents.
Supporters of the task force maintain it has delivered important public safety results in a city that has struggled with one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation. Police officials have noted that overall crime and violent crime were already falling in 2025 before the Guard deployment began.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s independent investigation into Sunday’s fatal shooting will likely take weeks to complete.