Memphis Video Shows Aftermath of Fatal Guard Shooting
Footage released on November 2 by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office shows National Guard members aiming handguns at Tyrin Johnson as he lay on a Memphis sidewalk after being shot. The videos include police body-camera recordings, street-camera footage and cellphone video, but do not show the shooting or Johnson’s initial encounter with the guardsmen.
Johnson, 20, was pronounced dead there after one bullet struck him, investigators said. An autopsy report shared by his family found that the bullet entered his back. That differs from police and National Guard accounts that Johnson was facing the guardsmen with a gun when they fired.
Street-camera footage shows a person in dark clothing firing across an empty parking lot toward three people walking on a sidewalk. Police body-camera video captures officers running toward the sound of gunfire, followed by more shots. Authorities said the troops were sent alongside police after reports of gunfire at about 4 a.m. and pursued an armed man on foot.
A National Guard report says two guardsmen approached the suspect, who turned toward them and pointed a tan handgun. Both fired their M17 handguns, the report says. At the scene, guardsmen can be heard ordering the man to show his hands and turn over while pointing their weapons at him. An officer calls for an ambulance, and a guardsman begins cutting away Johnson’s shirt. A guard shifts a pistol lying nearby, then an officer warns him not to touch it.
Johnson’s family attorney said the investigation should focus on whether the fatal shot was reasonable. District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not decided whether to bring charges. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating. The guardsmen’s attorney said they had no comment.
Fatal Memphis Shooting Demands Scrutiny of Federal Task Force
Newly released video captures the aftermath of a fatal shooting by National Guard members serving on a federal task force sent to cities President Donald Trump described as overrun with crime. Johnson, 20, lies on a Memphis sidewalk as guardsmen aim their handguns at him and officers seek medical help.
The footage does not show the shooting or the moments leading up to it. But an autopsy report shared by Johnson’s family found he was shot in the back, contradicting accounts from police and the Guard that he was facing the guardsmen with a gun when they fired. That unresolved conflict makes a careful investigation essential.
Authorities say troops were pursuing an armed man after reports of gunfire around 4 a.m. A Guard report says Johnson turned toward two guardsmen and pointed a tan handgun, prompting both to fire their M17 pistols. Street-camera video shows a person in dark clothing firing across a parking lot; body-camera footage captures more gunshots as police run toward the scene.
Guardsmen aim their weapons at Johnson and shout orders. A guard shifts a pistol on the ground, then an officer warns him not to touch it. An officer calls for an ambulance, and a guardsman begins cutting away Johnson’s shirt.
Johnson’s family attorney says the key issue is whether the fatal shot was reasonable. District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not decided whether to file charges, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues its inquiry. The unit took part in four deadly shootings over the period from May through July, making accountability in this case especially consequential.
Video Leaves Key Questions About Fatal Memphis Shooting Unanswered
The released footage of Tyrin Johnson’s death shows what happened after the shooting, not the confrontation that led to it. That distinction matters: the videos do not capture the initial encounter or the moment the guardsmen fired, leaving the central use-of-force question unresolved.
Authorities said the Guard members were assisting police after reports of gunshots around 4 a.m. A National Guard report says two guardsmen approached an armed man who turned toward them and pointed a tan handgun. Both fired their M17 pistols. Street-camera footage shows a person in dark clothing shooting across an empty parking lot, while police body-camera video records more shots as officers run toward the scene.
The aftermath footage shows guardsmen aiming handguns at Johnson, who was lying on the sidewalk, and shouting orders. An officer calls for an ambulance. One guard member moves a handgun on the ground until an officer directs him to leave it alone; another begins cutting away Johnson’s shirt.
Johnson, 20, was pronounced dead there after a bullet struck him. An autopsy report shared by his family found he was shot in the back, at odds with police and Guard accounts that he faced the guardsmen with a gun. His family’s attorney says investigators must assess whether the shot was reasonable, but the released footage cannot answer what happened immediately beforehand.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating, and District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not decided whether to bring charges. The nationwide unit established under President Donald Trump and supported by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee took part in four deadly shootings over the period from May through July.
Reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, CBS News, FOX 32 Chicago.
