Guard Members Fatally Shoot Man in Memphis

A Tennessee National Guard deployment to address crime turned deadly early Sunday morning, April 2, 2023.

Soldiers shot and killed 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson around 4:00 am in Memphis.

The soldiers were responding to a report of gunfire when they pursued Johnson. According to authorities, Johnson turned and pulled a gun on the troops. Two soldiers fired at Johnson, striking and killing him. Medical specialists provided first aid, but Johnson died at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

Investigation Underway

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said the incident is under investigation and did not identify the soldiers involved. Lt Col Darrin Haas, spokesperson for the Tennessee National Guard, also declined to identify the personnel.

Official and Family Reactions

Memphis Mayor Paul Young, a Democrat, called the shooting an “unfortunate incident” and said he would await the TBI investigation before further comment.

Johnson’s grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, said his grandson was a student at Tennessee State University, a father, and was preparing to help lead the family construction business. He requested review of investigation findings and any video before making judgment.

Background of the Deployment

The Tennessee National Guard was deployed in October 2022 by Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, as part of a federal initiative to address crime in Democratic-run cities. The deployment was temporarily halted in November 2022 by a lawsuit but approved by the Tennessee Court of Appeals in April 2023.

Critics, including Mayor Young, argued that crime rates were already declining in Memphis and that the deployment undermined local autonomy.

According to TBI data, this was at least the fourth officer-involved shooting linked to the Memphis Safe Taskforce, which includes federal and local agencies.