National Guard members in Memphis fatally shoot man during pursuit, police say

A man was fatally shot by two Tennessee National Guard members in Memphis on Sunday during a pursuit, according to authorities. The soldiers were part of a federal deployment ordered by the Trump administration to address crime in the city.

The Memphis Police Department stated that the guardsmen responded to reports of gunshots around 4 a.m. While pursuing an armed man fleeing on foot, the guardsmen opened fire when the individual turned toward them with his weapon. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the deceased as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson and is investigating the circumstances.

Johnson died at the scene. Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Darrin Haas confirmed that two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid. Johnson's older cousin, Terracle Nelson, described him as a good young man who was working in construction and attending university classes while living in Nashville. He had recently become a father.

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I just want to know, how they shot a 20-year-old twice in the chest, he hadn't harmed anyone.

Nelson expressed distress, questioning how a 20-year-old was shot twice in the chest without having harmed anyone. Law enforcement officials did not immediately comment on the number of shots fired, and the TBI declined to comment on Nelson's account. Mayor Paul Young called the shooting an "unfortunate incident" and stated he would await the TBI investigation's results before commenting further.

Federal troops have been patrolling Memphis since October, a deployment supported by Republican Gov. Bill Lee but met with objections from Mayor Young and some local leaders. The troops are part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a joint federal and local initiative. Memphis has historically struggled with high rates of violent crime, including assaults and homicides.

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unfortunate incident