Memphis police reported that National Guard troops opened fire early Sunday morning, resulting in the death of a man identified as Tyrin Johnson. The incident occurred during a patrol in Memphis. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) confirmed Johnson was armed and attempted to flee when discovered by law enforcement. Officers responded to reports of gunfire in downtown Memphis just before 4 a.m.

The TBI statement noted that two National Guard soldiers discharged their weapons after Johnson allegedly turned toward them with a handgun. They pursued and ultimately killed him. Johnson was declared dead at the scene, while no officers were injured during the encounter.

The TBI launched an independent investigation at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. The investigation involves collecting evidence and conducting interviews to establish the events leading to the shooting.

The National Guard’s presence in Memphis is part of a federal task force initiated by President Trump to address the city’s high crime rates. FBI data ranks Memphis among the cities with the highest violent crime rates. However, Memphis police noted a decline in overall and violent crime rates, even before the deployment.

The troops’ presence faced opposition from Democratic state and local officials, who filed a lawsuit claiming the deployment violated Tennessee’s constitutional limits on military force deployment. Initially, a judge sided with the local authorities, granting a temporary injunction blocking the operation. However, a state appeals court overturned the injunction in April, allowing the patrols to continue under the command of Republican Governor Bill Lee.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation remains responsible for investigating the circumstances of this incident.