Two Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a crime-fighting patrol in Memphis fatally shot a man Sunday who turned toward the soldiers with a gun during a downtown pursuit, authorities said.

The Guard members are part of a federal task force in Memphis created by President Donald Trump, who last year sent troops and federal agents to Democrat-run cities that he described as overrun with crime. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, had deployed the Guard to support the effort.

Authorities said the soldiers in Memphis were responding with local police to reports of gunshots around 4 a.m. when they began pursuing an armed man fleeing on foot. The guardsmen opened fire after the man turned toward them with his weapon, according to the city’s police department.

  • DanceMomsSavedMe@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    ·
    8 days ago

    When they make them act like police officers and patrol the streets they should make it a requirement that they wear them but I bet that will never happen. It really should though.

    • gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      10
      ·
      8 days ago

      NG should never be made to act like police officers. Riot defense is (arguably) ok, but imo normal NG troops should NEVER be involved in actual law enforcement operations.