A Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe is underway after National Guard soldiers, deployed as part of a federal anti-crime task force, fatally shot 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson during a foot pursuit in downtown Memphis early Sunday morning. The incident occurred while officers and soldiers were responding to reports of gunfire.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is now leading the inquiry into the shooting, collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses before presenting findings to the District Attorney General.
The Memphis Safe Task Force, established by the Trump administration in September, is a multiagency initiative targeting violent street crime and includes various federal agencies, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the National Guard. By March of this year, the task force had made more than 7,400 arrests, many involving suspects tied to homicides, gang violence, sexual offenses, and drug trafficking; it also seized 1,219 illegal firearms and located 150 missing children.
Memphis Mayor Paul Young stated: “The incident is under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and we will allow that process to conclude before making additional comments.”
In a February statement, the Trump administration described its law and order initiatives as a major success, claiming they have “turned the tide” in cities that had “devolved into war zones.” The administration credited these efforts with helping the U.S. achieve its lowest murder rate since 1900 in 2025.
