President Trump’s National Guard deployment faces backlash
President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to U.S. cities has raised questions about the military’s role in civilian life.
MEMPHIS – Two Tennessee National Guard members shot and killed a man during a chase in downtown Memphis early July 5, authorities said.
In a statement to The Commercial Appeal, part of the USA TODAY network, Memphis Police Department said officers responded to a “call of shots fired” in the downtown area just before 4 a.m. local time. After arriving at the scene, police said they saw several people leaving the scene and “observed an armed male with a handgun.”
Police said the man, later identified by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) as 20-year-old Tylin Johnson, fled on foot and was pursued by officers along with troopers assigned to the area. During the pursuit, Johnson allegedly swung at the officers with a weapon, police said.
“For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated and two National Guard members opened fire on Mr. Johnson, striking him to death,” the TBI said in a statement. “No law enforcement officers were injured in this incident.”
According to the TBI, Johnson “reportedly fired shots in the area.” Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Darin Haas said two Guard medical professionals attempted first aid, but Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Haas said the guards were in the city as part of the Memphis Safety Task Force, which was established by the Trump administration to combat crime in the city. The task force did not immediately respond to Commercial Appeal’s request for comment on the shooting.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy confirmed to the Commercial Appeal that two Guard members were involved in the incident and said he called the TBI to investigate the circumstances of the shooting.
The man shot and killed by the National Guard had a previous traffic violation, court records show.
Johnson does not appear to have a criminal history in Shelby County, according to court records. A public records search revealed an address associated with Johnson in Franklin County, Ohio, and no criminal record in court records in the area.
A search of federal court records in Tennessee and Ohio found no criminal charges against Johnson.
Court records in Davidson County, Tennessee, show Johnson was charged in 2023 with improper vehicle lighting and speeding, both misdemeanors. Mr Johnson pleaded guilty to both counts.
In 2024, Johnson was charged with driving with a suspended license in Wilson County, Tennessee. According to court records, he failed to appear at a hearing in January 2025 and a warrant for failure to appear was issued.
He was later arrested by Mount Juliet police outside Nashville in May of this year, according to court records. Johnson was released on $4,500 bond in Wilson County and a hearing was scheduled for July 8 in that county.
National Guard deployed to Memphis
Last year, President Donald Trump sent Guard troops and federal agents to Democratic-led cities including Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Portland and Memphis. Despite opposition from local leaders, the Trump administration cited crime and protests as reasons for the deployment.
The Guard has been stationed in Memphis since October 2025. Republican Tennessee Governor Bill Lee welcomed federal intervention, while Democratic Memphis Mayor Paul Young said he “does not support” the deployment of the Guard.
Guard members, clearly distinguished by their military uniforms, have been seen walking throughout downtown Memphis on patrol and directing traffic during events. They have also been seen guarding the perimeter of crime scenes throughout the city.
The Guard’s deployment to Memphis is the subject of a lawsuit filed by a group of local and state Democratic officials. A Davidson County Chancery Court judge initially granted a temporary injunction against the deployment, but the injunction was later reversed by a panel of appellate judges.
A temporary restraining order would have required the Guard to withdraw from Memphis pending the outcome of the case. The case has stalled since the appeals court removed the document.
This shooting is the fourth incident involving a member of the task force in Memphis, and the third fatal shooting by a member of the task force. In May, a Drug Enforcement Administration agent shot and killed a 41-year-old man, and a week later, a Homeland Security special agent shot and killed a 25-year-old man.
Contributor: N’dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY
