Two Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a federal crime-fighting task force in Memphis fatally shot Tyrin Johnson, 20, during a downtown pursuit early Sunday morning. Authorities reported that Johnson turned toward the guardsmen with a gun before being shot.
Key Takeaways
Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot Tyrin Johnson, 20, during a downtown Memphis pursuit early Sunday morning after he allegedly turned toward them with a gun. Authorities are investigating the incident while family disputes the official account.
- Two National Guard members shot and killed Tyrin Johnson in Memphis
- The shooting occurred during a foot pursuit near Ida B. Wells Avenue and Union Avenue
- Johnson was reportedly armed with a handgun but his grandfather disputes the official narrative
- This is at least the fourth officer-involved shooting tied to the Memphis Safe Task Force
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 8 publishers report consistent facts across 1 key claim. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number Of Shots Fired | 1 Difference | Majority reports no comment on number of shots fired; HuffPost cites two shots to the chest. | ▼ |
| Purpose Of Gun | Broad Agreement | Carried a gun for protection after being assaulted recently. |
Number Of Shots Fired
▼Majority reports no comment on number of shots fired; HuffPost cites two shots to the chest.
Purpose Of Gun
Broad AgreementCarried a gun for protection after being assaulted recently.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The incident occurred around 4 a.m. near the intersection of Ida B. Wells Avenue and Union Avenue in downtown Memphis when National Guard members and local police responded to reports of gunshots. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Johnson was allegedly armed with a handgun when he fled on foot, prompting officers to pursue him 'with assistance from Tennessee National Guard soldiers assigned to the area.' The guardsmen opened fire after Johnson turned toward them with his weapon, striking and killing him at the scene.
Johnson died despite attempts by two National Guard medical specialists to administer first aid. His family members were informed that he had been shot twice in the chest, though law enforcement authorities did not immediately confirm this information or comment on the number of shots fired. The shooting is being investigated by the TBI at the request of District Attorney General Steve Mulroy.
Johnson's grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, expressed skepticism about the official account, stating that his grandson carried a gun for protection after being assaulted recently in Nashville and was likely wary about being attacked again over a social media feud. He disputed that his grandson would have tried to fire a gun at U.S. guard members or that deadly force would be needed if he was running away.
The National Guard members are part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a federal initiative created by President Donald Trump that has led to over 10,000 arrests in Memphis since its deployment in October. This task force includes local and federal agencies and has been patrolling the city despite objections from Mayor Paul Young.
According to TBI data, this incident is at least the fourth officer-involved shooting tied to the Memphis Safe Task Force. Two of these shootings occurred in May and did not involve National Guard members discharging their weapons. The TBI also linked the task force to an October shooting but did not specify which law enforcement agencies were involved.
Local politicians have expressed outrage over the shooting, with state Rep. Justin Pearson calling for a transparent investigation and demanding the disbanding of the federal task force. 'It is not okay, it should not be normalized that the United States military is killing American citizens on U.S. soil,' Pearson said in a video statement, accusing the Trump administration of sending the National Guard to gain control of Memphis and other Democratic-led cities.
State Senate Minority Leader Raumesh Akbari and Senate Democratic Caucus Chairwoman London Lamar also demanded a 'clear and transparent accounting' of the shooting, calling for body camera and surveillance video to be made public. Mayor Young described the incident as 'unfortunate' and said he was awaiting the results of the TBI investigation before making further comments.
Tyrin Johnson did not appear to have a criminal history besides a handful of traffic violations. He was enrolled in Tennessee State University from August 2023 to May 2024, according to university spokesperson Angel Higgins.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 8 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.