National Guard Soldiers Fatally Shoot Man Who Had Gun in Downtown Memphis

A state investigation is underway after members of the Tennessee National Guard shot and killed a 20-year-old man in downtown Memphis on Sunday morning while they were patrolling the streets as part of a task force created by President Donald Trump.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the man as Tyrin Johnson.

According to the bureau, which is conducting the investigation, the National Guard soldiers involved in the shooting are assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force.

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According to TBI’s preliminary investigation, Memphis police were chasing, on foot, a man armed with a handgun, who had reportedly fired shots early Sunday. National Guard soldiers nearby joined the pursuit, TBI said in a statement.

“For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated, resulting in two National Guard soldiers firing upon Johnson, striking and killing him,” TBI said, adding that no law enforcement officers were hurt.

Memphis police said in a statement that they responded to a call that shots were fired in downtown Memphis. Officers saw a man carrying a gun, who fled on foot, the police statement said.

As police and National Guard soldiers assigned to the area were chasing him, the man “turned toward NG members with his weapon” and the soldiers “discharged their weapons,” police stated. The man was dead at the scene, police stated.

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