Memphis police say Tennessee National Guard members on a crime-fighting patrol fire their weapons during the early morning hours of July 5 in downtown Memphis, killing a man. Multiple outlets report that police were responding to a shots-fired call around 4 a.m., and that the National Guard members became involved as part of the response. Authorities say the man was armed with a handgun and turned toward the soldiers during a foot pursuit, prompting the members to shoot.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is cited by at least one outlet as handling aspects of the investigation, while others note that state investigators take over the case. The reports describe the incident as occurring in a Memphis hotspot/downtown area during an active chase. There is agreement across sources on the core sequence: a call involving gunfire, National Guard involvement, the man’s possession of a handgun, and the shooting by Guard members during the pursuit. No outlet provides additional details on injuries to others or charges as of the reported accounts.
