National Guard Soldiers Fatally Shoot Armed Man During Memphis Foot Chase
National Guard soldiers fatally shot a 20-year-old man during a foot pursuit in downtown Memphis around 4 a.m. Sunday, July 5, 2026, while responding to reports of gunshots.[1]
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation identified the victim as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson and said it is investigating the shooting.[1] Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, a National Guard spokesperson, said Johnson died at the scene after two Guard medical specialists tried to give first aid.[1] Johnson's cousin, Terracle Nelson, said family members were told he was shot twice in the chest and described him as living in Nashville, working construction, taking university classes and recently becoming a father.[1] Memphis Mayor Paul Young called the shooting an "unfortunate incident" and said he would await the TBI investigation before commenting further.[1]
On September 15, 2025, President Trump signed a presidential memorandum creating the Memphis Safe Task Force and directed the Defense Department to seek deployment of Tennessee National Guard units to the city. Tennessee National Guard troops began patrolling Memphis on October 10, 2025, under the task force. A chancery court issued a temporary injunction in November 2025 after Democrats sued, but the Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed that ruling on April 28, 2026, allowing the Guard to remain.[1] The deployment is part of a Trump administration initiative sending Guard patrols to six Democrat-led cities.[1] The Congressional Budget Office said the effort cost nearly $500 million through December 2025 and was projected to exceed $1 billion in 2026.[1]
The mainstream summary does not mention that Memphis experienced a significant reduction in violent crime in 2025, with 184 murders recorded, a 26% decrease from the previous year, and a notable 38% drop in shooting incidents. This context complicates the narrative surrounding the National Guard's deployment, which has been framed as a necessary response to escalating crime rates. In fact, the deployment was initiated under a presidential memorandum citing Memphis as having the highest rate of violent crime per capita among major cities in 2024, even as local data shows crime was declining overall in 2025. The summary also overlooks that nearly 400 National Guard members were actively patrolling the city each day, raising questions about the effectiveness and necessity of such a presence given the reported decrease in crime rates.
Additionally, the mainstream account does not address the political polarization surrounding the deployment of National Guard troops for domestic policing, where support for such measures is overwhelmingly backed by Republicans while largely opposed by Democrats. This division reflects broader societal tensions regarding law enforcement and military involvement in civilian life, which are essential to understanding the implications of this incident and the context in which it occurred.[2][3][4]
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
Memphis recorded 184 murders in calendar year 2025, a 26% decrease from 249 murders in 2024.
Nearly 400 National Guard members were patrolling Memphis each day as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force as of January 2026.
What's the cost of National Guard deployment in Memphis? — The Commercial Appeal
Memphis recorded 643 shooting incidents in 2025, a 38% decrease from 2024, resulting in nearly 500 fewer people injured in shootings.
Memphis Sees Significant Crime Reduction in 2025, Focus Shifts to Sustaining Progress — Memphis Police Department
📌 Key Facts
- The shooting occurred around 4 a.m. on Sunday, July 5, 2026, in downtown Memphis while National Guard members and police responded to reports of gunshots and were involved in a pursuit during which a man was fatally shot.
- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation publicly identified the victim as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson and confirmed it is investigating the shooting.
- Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, a Guard spokesperson, said Johnson died at the scene after two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid.
- Johnson's cousin, Terracle Nelson, said family was told he was shot twice in the chest and described him as living in Nashville, working in construction, taking university classes, and recently becoming a father.
- Memphis Mayor Paul Young called the shooting an “unfortunate incident,” said he will await the TBI investigation before further comment, and has previously opposed the federal troop deployment that placed Guard patrols in the city.
- The deployment of the Guard to Memphis is part of a Trump administration initiative sending Guard patrols to six Democrat-led cities; the Congressional Budget Office reported the effort cost nearly $500 million through December 2025 and was projected to exceed $1 billion in 2026.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article specifies that the shooting occurred around 4 a.m. Sunday, July 5, 2026, in downtown Memphis while Guard members and police responded to reports of gunshots.
- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation publicly identified the victim as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson and confirmed it is investigating the shooting.
- Guard spokesperson Lt. Col. Darrin Haas said Johnson died at the scene after two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid.
- Johnson's cousin, Terracle Nelson, said family was told he was shot twice in the chest and described him as living in Nashville, working construction, taking university classes, and recently becoming a father.
- Memphis Mayor Paul Young called the shooting an "unfortunate incident" and said he will await the TBI investigation before further comment; he has previously opposed the federal troop deployment even as Gov. Bill Lee backed it.
- The article reiterates that the National Guard deployment to Memphis is part of a Trump administration initiative sending Guard patrols to six Democrat-led cities, costing nearly $500 million through December 2025 and projected to exceed $1 billion in 2026, according to the Congressional Budget Office.