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

Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) fatally shot a man in Memphis on Wednesday, while on deployment in the Tennessee city as part of a federal crime-fighting task force.

The U.S. Marshals Service said Wednesday that federal and local law enforcement officers were attempting to serve a warrant on a wanted fugitive facing felony drug charges.

The officers made “numerous verbal commands” for the individual to surrender, before making a forced entry into the building, U.S. Marshals noted in a statement.

“During the encounter, the individual pointed a handgun at members of the Memphis Safe Task Force,” the statement continued. “Task force members responded to the immediate threat by discharging their firearms. Officers immediately rendered first aid until emergency medical personnel arrived on scene.”

The Hill has also reached out to the DEA for comment.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said the shooting occurred at roughly 8:30 a.m. CDT, when a team from the Memphis Safe Task Force “made up of multiple agencies” was attempting to serve an arrest warrant at a hotel.

“For reasons still under investigation, the situation escalated, resulting in a DEA agent firing into a room, striking a man and killing him. No law enforcement officers were hurt in the incident,” added the TBI, which did not say whether the man pointed a handgun at law enforcement.

President Trump formed the Memphis task force last September, in an effort to crack down on violent crime. The task force includes Tennessee Highway Patrol officers, state National Guard troops and agents from a host of federal agencies — including the FBI, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service.

The fatal shooting on Wednesday marked the second such incident in four days involving personnel from the task force. Early Sunday morning, Tennessee National Guard troops shot and killed 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson.

Memphis police officers were pursuing Johnson, who had a handgun, after he fired shots in the area, according to the TBI. The state bureau of investigation is also investigating that incident.

The TBI will share its findings from both probes with Steven Mulroy, the Democratic district attorney of Shelbey County, Tenn., which includes Memphis. Mulroy has the sole authority to determine whether the actions of the officers were justified.

Earlier this week, Johnson’s grandfather urged federal authorities to release video footage of his National Guard troops shooting his grandson.

“Show me the video,” Evaniel Johnson told The Associated Press. “Please show me that — and then I’m OK. Until you show me that, I’m gonna fight and advocate for my grandson until there’s no breath in me.”

Wednesday’s incident also marked the second fatal shooting involving DEA agents in Memphis since Trump created the task force.

In May, DEA agents fatally shot 41-year-old Darrin Pigram, who was wanted for aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and employing a firearm in the commission of a felony.

Later that month, an agent from Homeland Security Investigations fired at 25-year-old Jonah Neal, who allegedly made threats to harm himself and had multiple weapons inside his home.

The TBI said at the time it was “not immediately clear” whether Neal died as a result of the agent firing upon him or from self-inflicted stab wounds.

Updated July 9 at 9:38 a.m. EDT.