2 National Guard members fatally shoot man in Memphis, police say

Two Tennessee National Guard members, deployed as part of a federal task force in Memphis, fatally shot a man on Sunday during a pursuit. Authorities reported that the man, identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, turned toward the soldiers with a gun during the pursuit.

The incident occurred around 4 a.m. as the guardsmen, supporting local police, responded to reports of gunshots. According to the city's police department, they began pursuing an armed man fleeing on foot. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is now investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting. No law enforcement officers were injured.

Tyrin Johnson died at the scene. Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Darrin Haas stated that two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid. Johnson's cousin, Terracle Nelson, told reporters that family members were informed he had been shot twice in the chest, though authorities have not commented on the number of shots fired.

Family members described Johnson as a Tennessee State University student, a father of a young child, and someone passionate about music and helping lead the family construction business. His grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, expressed his grief, stating, "The heartbreaking reality is that he will never have the chance to enjoy what we were building together. That is a pain no grandparent should ever have to endure."

Mayor Paul Young called the shooting an "unfortunate incident" and is awaiting the TBI's investigation results before making further comments. The National Guard members involved are part of a federal task force established by President Trump to address crime in specific cities, with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee having deployed the Guard to support this initiative.

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I believed in him, and I know he still had so much life ahead of him. The heartbreaking reality is that he will never have the chance to enjoy what we were building together. That is a pain no grandparent should ever have to endure.