National Guard soldiers fatally shoot armed man in Memphis

Two Tennessee National Guard soldiers assisting local police in Memphis shot and killed an armed man early Sunday morning, July 5, after responding to reports of gunfire downtown. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is leading an inquiry into the incident, which marks the first fatal shooting involving the federal troops deployed to the city last fall.

According to authorities, Memphis police officers responded to a shots-fired call around 4 a.m. in the downtown area. They observed a man, later identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, carrying a handgun. Johnson fled on foot, prompting a pursuit by officers with assistance from two National Guard soldiers assigned to the area. Police stated that during the chase, Johnson turned toward the soldiers with his weapon, at which point they opened fire. Johnson was struck and pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were injured.

The soldiers were part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a multi-agency initiative established in September 2025 to target violent crime. The task force coordinates personnel from federal agencies, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the Tennessee National Guard, which has been patrolling...