Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson during an early-morning pursuit downtown Memphis on July 5, according to police and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The incident marks the third fatal shooting connected to the
At just before 4 a.m. on July 5, downtown Memphis erupted into a pursuit that ended in gunfire—and a death that now has investigators working to piece together what happened in the seconds before the trigger was pulled.
The Memphis Police Department said officers responded to a “shots-fired call” shortly before 4 a.m. in the downtown area. When they arrived, police said they saw several people leaving and “observed an armed male carrying a handgun.”
The man, later identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, fled on foot. Police said Johnson was pursued by officers alongside Tennessee National Guard members assigned to the area as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
During the pursuit, police said Johnson turned toward the Guard members with his weapon.
“For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated, resulting in two National Guard soldiers firing upon Johnson, striking and killing him,” the TBI said in a statement. The TBI added that no law enforcement officers were hurt.
Johnson had reportedly fired shots in the area, the TBI said.
A Guard spokesperson, Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, said two Guard medical specialists attempted first aid, but Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Haas also said the Guard members were in Memphis as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, which was established by the Trump administration to combat crime in the city. The task force did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy confirmed that two Guard members were involved and said he called the TBI to look into the circumstances of the shooting.
Court records Johnson’s history, as described in the case file
The shooting happened as questions persist about who is being targeted in the citywide security effort. Court records reviewed in connection with Johnson’s background show he did not appear to have a criminal record in Shelby County.
A public records search found an address tied to Johnson in Franklin County, Ohio, and court records there also showed no criminal record. Federal court searches in Tennessee and Ohio similarly showed no federal criminal charges.
In Davidson County, Tennessee, court records show a 2023 case involving improper vehicle lighting and speeding—both misdemeanors. Johnson pleaded guilty to both.
In 2024, Johnson was charged with driving with a suspended license in Wilson County, Tennessee. Court records show he did not appear for a January 2025 hearing, and a failure-to-appear warrant was issued.
He was later arrested by Mt. Juliet police outside of Nashville in May, according to court records. Johnson was released on a $4,500 bond in Wilson County with a hearing set for July 8.
How Memphis Safe Task Force became part of national debate
Last year, President Donald Trump deployed National Guard troops and federal agents to Democratic-led cities including Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Chicago, Portland, and Memphis. The Trump administration cited crime and protests as reasons for the deployments, despite objections from local leaders.
The Guard has been in Memphis since October 2025. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, welcomed the federal intervention, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, said he did “not support” the deployment of the Guard.
Guard members—often distinguishable by their military fatigues—have been seen walking downtown on patrols and directing traffic during events. They have also been observed securing the perimeter of crime scenes throughout the city.
That role has also been challenged in court. The Guard’s deployment to Memphis has been subject to a lawsuit filed by a group of Democratic officials from local and state levels. A Davidson County Chancery Court judge initially granted a temporary injunction. but that injunction was later struck down by a panel of appellate judges.
The temporary injunction would have required the Guard to withdraw from Memphis pending the outcome of the case, but since the appellate court removed it, the lawsuit has been stagnant.
A series of fatal shootings tied to the task force
This fatal shooting is the fourth one involving a member of the task force in Memphis and the third fatal shooting by a member of the task force.
In May, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent fatally shot a 41-year-old man. A week later, a Homeland Security Investigations special agent shot and killed a 25-year-old man.
The sequence has now put the Memphis Safe Task Force’s use of armed personnel—and the risks that come with placing them on patrol in public spaces—back in the spotlight, even as investigators work to determine how a pursuit involving Johnson escalated into lethal force.
Memphis National Guard Tyrin Johnson Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Memphis Safe Task Force Steve Mulroy Bill Lee Paul Young federal deployment crime policing