Tennessee National Guard members, part of a federal task force in Memphis, fatally shot a man during a pursuit in downtown Memphis. The man, identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, turned toward the soldiers with a gun, prompting them to open fire.
Investigation Underway
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the circumstances of the shooting. Johnson died at the scene after two National Guard medical specialists attempted first aid.
Johnson’s cousin, Terracle Nelson, described him as a good person who had just had his first child and was working in construction and taking university classes. Nelson questioned how the National Guard members could have shot Johnson twice in the chest, saying he hadn’t harmed anyone.
The shooting is the latest incident involving the federal task force, which was deployed to Memphis last year to combat high violent crime. The task force has led to over 10,000 arrests, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
The deployment of federal troops to Memphis has been controversial, with some officials, including Mayor Paul Young, objecting to the move. The Tennessee Court of Appeals ruled in April that state and local Democratic officials lacked standing to block the deployment.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
