National Guard soldiers fatally shoot man who had gun in downtown Memphis

Key Points:

• Tennessee National Guard soldiers, part of the Memphis Safe Task Force created by a Trump administration order, fatally shot 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson during a foot chase in downtown Memphis on Sunday; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is conducting a state-ordered probe into the incident.
• The Memphis Safe Task Force, formed in September 2025 and including federal agencies, local police, and the National Guard, was deployed to combat crime and immigration issues in Memphis, a city with historically high violent crime rates.
• Preliminary reports indicate the shooting occurred after Johnson, reportedly armed and fleeing from police, turned toward National Guard members with a weapon, prompting them to open fire; no law enforcement officers were injured.
• The deployment of federal forces in Memphis has been controversial, with local Black residents expressing fears of harassment and excessive policing; lawsuits have been filed challenging the presence and conduct of the task force.
• The task force has made over 10,700 arrests since its inception, but this shooting follows two other fatal incidents involving task force members earlier in 2025, raising concerns about the use of force and accountability.