MEMPHIS — Two Tennessee National Guard soldiers fatally shot 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson in downtown Memphis on July 5, 2026. Memphis police officers and Tennessee National Guard soldiers were responding to reports of shots fired just before 4 a.m. local time when they observed an armed male carrying a handgun.

Johnson fled on foot and was pursued by Memphis police officers and Tennessee National Guard soldiers. Memphis police stated that Johnson then turned toward National Guard members with his weapon before the soldiers fired. Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid on Johnson, according to Lieutenant Colonel Darrin Haas, a National Guard spokesperson. No law enforcement officers were injured during the incident, according to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

The TBI is investigating the incident at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents are working to independently determine the sequence of events leading to the shooting, which includes collecting evidence and conducting interviews. The agency stated, "For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated, resulting in two National Guard soldiers firing upon Johnson, striking and killing him."

Memphis Mayor Paul Young called the shooting an "unfortunate incident" and said he was waiting to review the results of the TBI investigation before commenting further.

Why It Matters

The National Guard has been patrolling in Memphis since October 2025 as part of a federal task force established by former President Trump to combat crime. These troops are part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, which includes federal and local agencies.

Democratic state and local officials had previously sued to block the deployment of these troops, arguing it violated the Tennessee Constitution's limits on the governor's authority to deploy state military forces. A Tennessee judge issued a temporary injunction to block the deployment, but the Tennessee Court of Appeals overturned that injunction in April 2026. The appeals court ruled that state and local Democratic officials lacked standing to block the deployment of federal troops in Memphis. Memphis police stated that overall crime and violent crime were declining in 2025, prior to the National Guard deployment.