Tennessee National Guard soldiers fatally shot an armed man in downtown Memphis during the early morning hours of Sunday, according to Memphis police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The incident occurred just before 4 a.m. local time when Memphis police officers responded to reports of shots fired in the downtown area. Officers encountered an armed individual carrying a handgun, later identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson.
Johnson fled on foot, prompting a pursuit by Memphis police officers and Tennessee National Guard soldiers assigned to patrol the area. The circumstances that led to the fatal shooting remain under investigation.
According to a statement from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the situation escalated for reasons currently under investigation, resulting in two National Guard soldiers discharging their weapons and striking Johnson. Memphis police reported that Johnson had turned toward National Guard members with his weapon before the soldiers opened fire.
Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the incident, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is conducting an independent investigation at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Investigators are working to determine the sequence of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews with witnesses and those involved.
The National Guard deployment in Memphis began in October of last year as part of a federal task force established by President Trump to address crime in the city. Memphis ranks among cities with the highest violent crime rates in the nation, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data.
However, Memphis police reported that overall crime and violent crime rates were declining in 2025 prior to the National Guard deployment. Despite the improving statistics, some local residents expressed support for the federal intervention.
The deployment has faced legal challenges from Democratic state and local officials who filed suit to block the operation. The officials argued that the deployment violates the Tennessee Constitution regarding when and how the governor can deploy state military forces. The troops operate under the command of Republican Governor Bill Lee.
A Tennessee judge initially sided with local officials, issuing a temporary injunction that halted the deployment. However, a state appeals court overturned that injunction in April, allowing the National Guard operation to continue.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will handle the investigation into the fatal shooting. The agency's findings will be critical in determining whether the use of lethal force was justified under the circumstances.
