Memphis Guard Shooting: Video Shows Troops Aiming at Dying Man

Tennessee National Guard troops pointed their handguns at a man lying on a Memphis sidewalk last summer, video released Monday shows. The footage captures the moments immediately after guard members fired at Tyrin Johnson, who died at the scene from a single gunshot wound. The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office shared the recordings as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues its review of the July 5 shooting.

The released materials include body camera footage from a local police officer, stationary street camera video, and a bystander’s cellphone recording. In the body cam clip, an officer calls for an ambulance and asks the troops if they have a medical kit. The video shows at least six guard members on the scene shortly after the shots rang out. One guard member is seen moving a handgun that lay on the ground until a police officer told him to stop. Another guard member begins cutting off Johnson’s shirt just before the recording ends.

Johnson, 20, was armed when he was shot, according to investigators. However, an autopsy report shared by his family indicates he was struck in the back. This finding contradicts police and National Guard accounts, which stated he was facing the troopers with a gun when they fired. A Tennessee National Guard report obtained via public records request details that two members responded to a radio call about gunshots around 4 a.m. The report says the suspect rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun, prompting both members to fire their M17 service weapons.

The task force involved in the shooting was created by President Donald Trump, who deployed troops to Democrat-run cities last year to address crime. Tennessee’s Republican Governor, Bill Lee, deployed the Guard to support that federal effort. Between May and July, this specific task force was involved in four fatal shootings. District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he has not yet decided whether to file charges. A spokesperson for the Tennessee National Guard did not respond to requests for comment, and Ed Yarbrough, an attorney for the two guard members, said they have no comment at this time.

André C. Wharton, an attorney for Johnson’s family, emphasized that the videos do not show the moments immediately before the shooting or the shooting itself. He stated that the investigation must remain focused on whether the fatal shot was reasonable. The footage from stationary cameras shows a person in dark clothing firing through an empty parking lot at three people on a sidewalk. Two Memphis police officers hear the gunshots, run toward the noise, and report over radio that they are pursuing an armed man.

The blurry body camera video captures yelling and the sound of a single gunshot followed by several additional shots. The visual evidence does not clarify the exact sequence of events leading up to the initial discharge, a gap that Wharton highlighted in his legal strategy. Johnson’s grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, noted that his grandson was the father of a young child and was preparing to help lead the family construction business.

The release of the video comes as local and federal agencies weigh their findings in the case. The district attorney’s office is evaluating the evidence against the standard of reasonableness for use of force. The National Guard members remain on active duty while the investigation proceeds. The family’s legal team continues to review the newly available footage alongside the autopsy data and the official incident report.

The incident occurred in a residential area of Memphis where federal presence had been increasing. The task force operated alongside local police during the early morning hours of the dispute. The visual record now provides a detailed look at the post-shooting scene, including the positioning of the troops and the condition of the victim. Prosecutors will use these materials to determine the next steps in the legal process.