Posted on 07/05/2026 3:01:00 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Memphis police say National Guard troops fired their weapons in the early morning hours Sunday, killing a man who was armed with a handgun.
Police say officers were responding to calls of shots fired in downtown Memphis just before 4 am local time when they saw "an armed male carrying a handgun." The man — identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson — fled on foot, pursued by Memphis police officers along with Tennessee National Guard soldiers who are assigned to the area.
What happened next was not immediately clear.
"For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated, resulting in two National Guard soldiers firing upon Johnson, striking and killing him," according to a statement from the TBI. Memphis police said the man had "turned toward NG members with his weapon" before the National Guard soldiers fired their weapons and struck him.
Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident, according to the TBI.
The TBI says it is investigating the incident at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. TBI agents are "working to independently determine the series of events leading to the shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews," the agency said.
The National Guard has been patrolling in Memphis since October of last year as part of a federal task force, established by President Trump, to combat crime in Memphis.
Memphis has one of the highest violent crime rates in the country, according to data from the FBI. But Memphis police say overall crime and violent crime were falling in 2025 even before the National Guard deployment began. Still, some local residents told NPR they welcomed the federal intervention.
Democratic state and local officials sued to block the deployment of the troops, who are operating under the command of Republican Gov. Bill Lee. They argued that the deployment violates the Tennessee Constitution's limits on when and how the governor can deploy the state's military forces.
A judge in Tennessee sided with local officials, issuing a temporary injunction that blocked the deployment. But a state appeals court overturned that injunction in April, allowing the operation to continue.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will handle the investigation into the fatal shooting.
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FAFO?
Praying for the NG soldiers.
“...just before 4 am local time when they saw “an armed male carrying a handgun.” The man — identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson...”
Da Yute shoulda stayed holed up in his Jomama’s basement that time of day.
Now we’ll all have to live that down.
Like the one lesbian woman who tried to hit an agent with the vehicle but then was shot and the one man who carried three extra magazines for his weapon and confronted agents on the sidewalk and was shot.
Spanberger and the next woke female socialist candidate (name?) winning said “Americans have been killed by the occupation force of these dangerous invaders.” Yeah, TWO, who put themselves in harm’s way while defying orders to get back.
They make it sound like agents sprayed crowds with automatic weapons and bazookas. BS.
Soros: "Get on this story and make it look bad for Trump. What am I paying you all for? Get on it."
Ha. Had she have been a good cook he would have. Fast food chicken and fries lured him outside.
Note to Tyrone, or Malik, or Da’Quavious, or whatever the hell his name is… Don’t point your gun at a national guard detachment.
Any riots yet?
Next time, leave the gun and take the cannoli.
Interesting to know if the NG deployment has resulted in a reduction of crime - especially murders - might be a net positive.
My prayers up, too.
Thay have no agenda. They are just people serving and protecting citizens.
If you don’t want to get killed don’t point your gun at law enforcement. By the way your gun is supposed to be HOLSTERED unless you intend to use it.
I assume the damn Democrats are up in arms and intend to prosecute to make an example why we should never, Ever defend our.
Cleaning the gene pool is always a win.
If he had carried the handgun in a holster, he might not even have been stopped.
Tennessee is a permitless carry state.
Another Darwin verification?
Sounds like a legitimate shoot to me. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. When do the riots start?
What took so long?
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