NAACP demands end of Trump’s anticrime taskforce in Memphis after deaths of Black men

6 articles

2 sources

0% diversity

Updated 10.7.2026

Key Topics & People

Tyrin Johnson *Memphis Memphis Safe Task Force Tennessee National Guard Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

Coverage Framing

Political Strategy(3)

Social Justice(1)

Conflict(1)

Human Interest(1)

Avg Factuality:67%

Avg Sensationalism:Moderate

Story Timeline

Jul 10, 2026

1 articles|1 sources

anticrime taskforcedeaths of black mennaacpfederal investigationlaw enforcement misconduct

Social Justice(1)

The Guardian - World NewsJul 10

NAACP demands end of Trump’s anticrime taskforce in Memphis after deaths of Black men

The NAACP is demanding the suspension of the Memphis Safe Task Force following the recent deaths of two Black men in Tennessee. In a letter to acting attorney general Todd Blanche, the advocacy group called for a thorough federal investigation into the task force's actions. The demand comes after the shooting death of Tyrin Johnson by National Guard troops and the discovery of Darius Chappell's body in a jail cell after a use-of-force incident. The NAACP stated the task force, established by Donald Trump, has deployed federal and military officers with insufficient civilian policing training and has been linked to at least four deaths this year. The group seeks transparency and accountability, arguing the Department of Justice has a responsibility to investigate law enforcement misconduct and protect the constitutional rights of Black Americans.

Mixed toneFactual3 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

NAACP demands suspension of Memphis Safe Task Force following deaths of two Black men.

— NAACP

factual

Tyrin Johnson, 20, was shot and killed by Tennessee National Guard troops.

— Article

factual

Darius Chappell, 34, was found dead in a jail cell after a 'use of force' incident.

— Article

quote

NAACP letter states the federal government has unique expertise in investigating law enforcement misconduct.

— NAACP

factual

The Memphis Safe Task Force has been linked to at least four deaths this year.

— Article

Jul 9, 2026

1 articles|1 sources

fatal shootingfederal task forcememphisdea agentlaw enforcement

Conflict(1)

Associated Press (AP)Jul 9

Second person in 4 days is fatally shot in Memphis by federal task force member

A member of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a federal crime-fighting unit, fatally shot an individual on Wednesday at a hotel while serving a drug warrant. This marks the second fatal shooting by a task force member in four days and the fourth death involving the unit since its inception. The suspect was killed after refusing to open a hotel room door, leading agents to force entry. While initial reports stated the man pointed a handgun at task force members, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the circumstances, noting the situation escalated. The Memphis Safe Task Force, established by President Donald Trump, includes federal agents and Tennessee National Guard troops. The TBI is investigating this and other shootings involving the task force.

Mixed toneFactual3 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

A member of a federal crime-fighting task force in Memphis shot and killed a person on Wednesday.

factual

This is the second fatal shooting by a task force member in four days and the fourth death involving the unit since it started in September.

factual

The Memphis Safe Task Force was created by President Donald Trump as part of an effort to place National Guard troops and federal agents in Democratic-run cities he described as crime-ridden.

statistic

Data from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation shows that at least four people have died in encounters with officers tied to the federal task force.

— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

factual

Authorities said 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson was killed after he turned toward them with a gun during a downtown pursuit.

— Authorities

Jul 8, 2026

1 articles|1 sources

anticrime taskforceofficer-involved deathsdea operationfederal agentsmemphis

Political Strategy(1)

The Guardian - World NewsJul 8

Fourth person killed by agents from Trump’s Memphis anticrime taskforce

Federal agents with the Memphis Safe Task Force, established by Donald Trump, were involved in the fatal shooting of a man at a Memphis motel on Wednesday morning. This incident marks the fourth officer-involved death since the task force's inception in September. The US Marshals Service stated that agents were attempting to serve a warrant on a wanted fugitive facing felony drug charges when the individual pointed a handgun at them, prompting a response. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting. The article notes that while Memphis had high violent crime rates previously, violence had fallen in the year before the task force's creation. Previous incidents involving the task force and National Guard include three other fatal shootings in May and earlier this week.

Mixed toneFactual3 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

Federal agents killed a man at a Memphis motel on Wednesday morning in a DEA operation with the Memphis Safe Task Force, the fourth officer-involved death since the initiative began.

factual

Donald Trump established the federal taskforce by executive order last year, amid a surge of troops and federal law enforcement agents to Democratic-run cities he claimed were overrun with crime.

quote

Authorities said agents were attempting to serve a warrant on a wanted fugitive facing felony drug charges.

— US Marshals Service spokesperson

quote

During the encounter, the individual pointed a handgun at members of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

— US Marshals Service spokesperson

factual

Memphis had among the highest rates of violent crime of large cities in the United States when Trump signed the executive order.

Jul 6, 2026

2 articles|2 sources

tennessee national guardtyrin johnsonnational guard shootingshooting deathvideo footage release

Human Interest(1)

Associated Press (AP)Jul 6

The family of a man shot by the Tennessee National Guard demands release of video

The grandfather of Tyrin Johnson, a 20-year-old man fatally shot by the Tennessee National Guard in Memphis, is demanding the release of video footage related to the incident. Evaniel Johnson disputes the official narrative that his grandson turned towards guards with a gun while fleeing from them. Memphis police stated the guards were responding to a report of gunfire. Johnson's family was informed he was shot twice in the chest. Tennessee Democrats are also calling for transparency in the investigation and the release of any available video. The National Guard members were part of a federal crime-fighting patrol in Memphis.

MeasuredMixed2 sources

Negative

Political Strategy(1)

The Guardian - World NewsJul 6

Tennessee national guard troops shoot man dead in Memphis

National Guard soldiers in Memphis shot and killed Tyrin Johnson, 20, on Sunday morning around 4 am. Authorities stated that Johnson allegedly turned and pulled a gun on the troops during a chase after they responded to a report of gunfire. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident, confirming that two National Guard soldiers fired upon Johnson, resulting in his death. The deployment of National Guard troops in Memphis was controversial, initiated by Governor Bill Lee to support a federal initiative against crime in Democratic-run cities. This marks at least the fourth officer-involved shooting linked to a taskforce that includes federal and local agencies.

Mixed toneFactual6 sources

Negative

Key Claims

factual

The family of Tyrin Johnson demands the release of video footage related to his death.

— Evaniel Johnson

factual

Tyrin Johnson, 20, was shot and killed by two Tennessee National Guard members.

— AP News

factual

Memphis police state the guard members were responding to a report of gunfire.

— Memphis police

factual

Evaniel Johnson disputes the narrative that his grandson would have fired a gun at guards.

— Evaniel Johnson

factual

The National Guard members were assigned to a crime-fighting patrol created by President Trump.

— AP News

Jul 5, 2026

1 articles|1 sources

national guardfatal shootingmemphiscrime-fighting patrolpursuit

Political Strategy(1)

Associated Press (AP)Jul 5

National Guard members on patrol in Memphis fatally shoot man during pursuit, police say

Two Tennessee National Guard members, part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, fatally shot a 20-year-old man, Tyrin Johnson, on Sunday during a pursuit in downtown Memphis. The Guard members were responding to reports of gunshots when they pursued Johnson, who was fleeing on foot and then turned toward them with a gun. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating the incident. The National Guard deployment in Memphis was initiated by the Trump administration last fall to combat crime, despite objections from local Democratic leaders. The Guard members attempted first aid on Johnson, who died at the scene. Mayor Paul Young stated he is awaiting the TBI investigation results before commenting further.

MeasuredMixed4 sources

Negative

Key Claims

quote

Tyrin Johnson's cousin stated he was 'as good a boy as can be' and questioned how he was shot twice in the chest.

— Terracle Nelson

factual

Two Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot a man during a pursuit in Memphis.

— authorities

factual

The man was identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson, who was reportedly armed and turned toward the soldiers with his weapon.

— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation

factual

The Trump administration ordered National Guard deployments in Memphis and five other Democrat-run cities to confront crime.

— author

factual

Local leaders in these cities have stated they do not believe federal intervention is necessary and some have challenged deployments in court.

— author