Fatal Shooting Involves National Guard in Downtown Memphis
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agents are investigating a fatal shooting involving Tennessee National Guard soldiers in downtown Memphis early Sunday morning. The incident left 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson dead after he allegedly turned toward military personnel while armed with a handgun.
A Foot Pursuit Leads to Lethal Force
Memphis Police Department officers responded to reports of gunfire in the downtown area shortly before 4 a.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2025. Upon arrival, officers encountered an armed male, later identified as Tyrin Johnson, who fled on foot.
During the ensuing pursuit, which involved both Memphis police and Tennessee National Guard soldiers assigned to the area, the situation escalated. The Memphis Police Department stated that Johnson turned toward the National Guard members while holding his weapon. Two soldiers subsequently fired their service weapons, striking and killing Johnson. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No law enforcement officers or military personnel sustained injuries during the encounter.
Federal Task Force Presence Under Scrutiny
The Tennessee National Guard has maintained a presence in Memphis since October 2024 as part of a federal task force directed by the Trump administration to address local violent crime rates. While the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has historically identified Memphis as having one of the highest violent crime rates in the United States, local police data indicates that overall crime and violent crime incidents were trending downward in 2025 prior to the deployment.
Legal Battles Over Military Deployment
The presence of these troops has been the subject of significant legal contention. Democratic state and local officials filed a lawsuit challenging the deployment, arguing that it exceeded the authority granted to Gov. Bill Lee under the Tennessee Constitution regarding the use of state military forces.
A local judge initially granted a temporary injunction to halt the operation. However, in April 2025, a state appeals court overturned that ruling, allowing the deployment to continue under the governor’s command.
TBI Assumes Lead on Independent Inquiry
The TBI has assumed responsibility for the investigation at the request of Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy. Agency investigators are currently working to independently reconstruct the events leading to the shooting. This process includes the collection of forensic evidence and the completion of witness interviews. As the investigation remains active, authorities have not released further details regarding the specific chain of events that led to the escalation.