Two Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a crime-fighting patrol in Memphis fatally shot a man Sunday who turned toward the soldiers with a weapon during a downtown pursuit, authorities said.
The shooting occurred around 4 a.m. when guardsmen responding with local police to reports of gunshots began pursuing an armed man fleeing on foot, according to the Memphis Police Department. The department stated that the guardsmen opened fire after the man turned towards them with his weapon. No law enforcement officers were injured.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the deceased as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson and said it is investigating the circumstances of the shooting. Two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid before Johnson died at the scene, Guard spokesperson Lt. Col Darrin Haas stated.
What the Left Is Saying
Democratic local leaders in Memphis have repeatedly challenged the federal troop deployments, arguing they are unnecessary and unwanted. Mayor Paul Young called the shooting an "unfortunate incident" and said he was waiting to see the results of the TBI investigation before commenting further, according to a statement provided by spokesperson Penelope Huston.
Johnson's older cousin, Terracle Nelson, 46, told The Associated Press that Johnson was "as good a boy as can be." She said he was living in Nashville, working in construction and taking university classes, and had just had his first child earlier this year. Nelson questioned the shooting during an interview with authorities.
"I just want to know, how they shot a 20-year-old twice in the chest, he hadn't harmed anyone," Nelson said.
Local officials have argued that violent crime in Democratic-led cities has decreased significantly since pandemic highs, raising questions about whether the federal intervention is warranted. Some city leaders have challenged the deployments in court.
What the Right Is Saying
The Trump administration has ordered National Guard deployments to Memphis and five other Democrat-run cities, including New Orleans and Washington, D.C., as part of what it calls an effort to confront urban crime waves. The soldiers are part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, convened by President Trump and comprised of federal and local agencies.
Republican Gov. Bill Lee has supported the deployment in Tennessee. For years, Memphis, with a population exceeding 600,000, has dealt with high rates of violent crime including assaults, carjackings and homicides. Both Democratic and Republican officials have noted decreases last year in some crime categories, though advocates argue sustained federal presence could further improve public safety.
The administration has defended the deployments as necessary to restore order in cities where local leadership has failed to adequately address criminal activity.
What the Numbers Show
Federal troops have been patrolling Memphis since October over the objections of Democratic Mayor Young but with Republican Governor Lee's support. The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled in April that state and local Democratic officials lacked standing to block the deployment of federal troops in the city.
The deployments carry significant fiscal costs. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the operations cost nearly half a billion dollars through the end of December and are expected to exceed $1 billion this year.
While crime statistics show violent crime has declined from pandemic highs in many Democratic-led cities, Memphis has historically faced elevated violent crime rates compared to national averages, according to FBI data. Both parties have cited recent decreases as evidence their respective approaches are working.
In May, four Memphis residents filed a pending federal lawsuit seeking to block the task force from enforcing laws restricting recording of police activities within 25 feet. The ACLU-represented plaintiffs alleged that task force members retaliated against them for filming operations and engaged in surveillance at their homes after they documented troop activities.
The Bottom Line
The TBI investigation into Johnson's death will determine whether the use of deadly force was justified under existing guidelines governing National Guard operations. The outcome could influence ongoing legal challenges to federal urban deployments.
The shooting adds scrutiny to a deployment strategy that has faced political opposition from Democratic mayors and governors who argue it represents federal overreach, while supporters contend it addresses genuine public safety needs in cities that have struggled with violent crime. With nearly $1 billion in annual costs and multiple court battles still unresolved, the future of these operations remains uncertain.
What happens next: The TBI investigation is ongoing. A federal lawsuit challenging task force enforcement practices is pending. Congress may face questions about the deployment costs during upcoming budget hearings.