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National Guard Troops Shoot and Kill Armed Man During Memphis Patrol
Two National Guard soldiers shot and killed 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson early Sunday after he fled from police responding to shots-fired calls. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is examining the incident.
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National Guard troops fatally shot a 20-year-old man in downtown Memphis early Sunday morning. Memphis police said officers responded to reports of shots fired just before 4 a.m. local time and observed an armed male carrying a handgun.
The man, identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as Tyrin Johnson, fled on foot and was pursued by Memphis police officers and National Guard soldiers. Two National Guard soldiers fired upon Johnson after he turned toward them with his weapon, according to statements from Memphis police and the TBI. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
No law enforcement officers were injured. The TBI is investigating the shooting at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Agents are collecting evidence and conducting interviews to determine the sequence of events.
National Guard troops have patrolled Memphis since October 2025 as part of a federal task force established by President Trump to address crime. Memphis has one of the nation's highest violent crime rates, according to FBI data. A Tennessee judge issued a temporary injunction blocking the deployment, which a state appeals court overturned in April 2026.
