Memphis National Guard Patrol Kills 20-Year-Old in Early-Morning Chase
Troops on a federal crime task force in Tennessee's second-largest city shot and killed a young man who reportedly turned toward them with a firearm during a downtown foot pursuit before dawn on Sunday.
Memphis National Guard Patrol Kills 20-Year-Old in Early-Morning Chase
Two Tennessee National Guard troops assigned to a federal anti-crime patrol in Memphis shot and killed a 20-year-old man during a downtown foot pursuit around 4 a.m. Sunday, after the individual reportedly turned toward them holding a gun, police and state investigators said.
The service members were assisting local officers in responding to reports of shots fired when they began chasing an armed individual on foot through the city center, according to the Memphis Police Department. The soldiers discharged their weapons after the man pivoted toward them while holding his firearm, the agency stated.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation named the deceased as Tyrin Johnson, age 20. Two Guard medics attempted life-saving measures at the location, but Johnson succumbed to his injuries there, said Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, a Guard spokesperson. No law enforcement personnel were hurt.
A relative, Terracle Nelson, informed The Associated Press that Johnson resided in Nashville, worked in construction, was taking college courses, and had become a new father earlier this year. Nelson said family members were told Johnson sustained two chest wounds.
The Guard presence in Memphis forms part of a wider federal initiative that has stationed troops in multiple cities since last autumn. These personnel operate under the Memphis Safe Task Force, a combined federal-local unit. The deployment has faced court challenges from local Democratic officials and a pending civil lawsuit from residents alleging retaliation for recording task force activities.
City Mayor Paul Young described the event as "unfortunate" and indicated he would withhold further remarks until the state probe concludes.
State investigators are examining the precise circumstances of the gunfire. Authorities have not yet disclosed how many rounds were fired.
Source: PBS NewsHour / Associated Press
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)