When the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis responded to a report of gunfire early one recent Sunday, 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson reportedly led officers on a pursuit downtown. He was fatally shot and killed when officers say he turned towards them with a handgun.
Days later, another shooting death occurred while U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents were serving a drug warrant at a hotel room in the city. The situation reportedly escalated when the suspect refused to open the door for agents.
As the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) examines both incidents, Johnson's family is calling for the release of video evidence that would show what happened.
The people of Memphis and beyond are also weighing in on the situation.
"It's really verry surreal to me," a young man told FOX 13 Memphis about being present at the scene when Johnson's mother heard the news of her son's death.
"We come from a big family, so family is a big deal with us," the man's brother added. "Watching the momma get the news … I wouldn't want my mamma to get news like that."
The National Guard has been patrolling the city since October as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, an intervention Tennessee's Republican Gov. Bill Lee has embraced.
Democratic Memphis Mayor Paul Young has been pragmatic about it, saying the task force was coming regardless of his opinion, and he wanted to find ways to use them effectively.
But Democratic State Rep. Justin J. Pearson claims it has been "from day one a racist project from the president to take over cities like Memphis."
He is not the only one with that narrative.
The Horn Island/Nolan Wells case in neighboring Mississippi has similarly taken on a racial dimension because the victim's family, represented by civil rights attorney Ben Crump, has called for a transparent investigation, citing Mississippi's history of racial injustice and seeking to determine whether race played any role in the events leading to his death.
Memphis has a population of about 610,000 residents, and the southern city is predominantly black at roughly 62%.
Before the Safe Task Force, Memphis struggled with high rates of violent crime, including assaults, carjackings, and homicides. Many residents and advocacy groups argue the heavy police presence has harmed the community, but the White House reports over 7,400 arrests and a major drop in violent crime.
Officials say they have taken thousands of illegal guns off the streets and located missing children.
Many also see that the guardsmen only use fatal force when they are trying to defend themselves.
Audio recorded over the weekend from a masked man in the streets of the city supports this.
"I'm finna kill a cop tonight," he tells the person holding the camera. "I'm finna kill a cop tonight. Get ready."
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy's office will review the evidence TBI agents collect in Johnson's death and decide whether the shooting was legal.
