New video shows National Guard aiming guns at Memphis man after shooting

Residents of Memphis are getting a new look at the moments following the death of a 20-year-old man shot by Tennessee National Guard troops last July. Video released Monday by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office shows guard members standing over Tyrin Johnson, who lay on a sidewalk, while they kept their handguns trained on him.

The release comes as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues to probe the incident. The new footage does not capture the initial exchange or the moment the fatal bullet was fired. Instead, it focuses on the aftermath, showing the confusion and urgency among the responders on the scene.

In the video, a Memphis police officer calls for an ambulance over the radio. The officer then asks the nearby troops if they have a medical kit. The guard members can be heard shouting commands such as 'Hands!' and 'Turn over!' as they aim their M17 handguns at Johnson, who was lying on his back.

Johnson died at the scene from a single gunshot wound. Investigators confirmed the cause of death, but the manner of the shooting has been a point of contention. An autopsy report shared by Johnson’s family states he was shot in the back. This finding contradicts earlier accounts from police and the National Guard, which described Johnson as facing the troops with a gun when they fired.

The shooting took place around 4 a.m. on July 5. Authorities say the troops were part of a federal task force supporting local police. They were responding to reports of gunshots when they began pursuing an armed man on foot. Footage from stationary street cameras shows a person in dark clothing firing shots through an empty parking lot at three people on a sidewalk.

Two Memphis police officers heard the gunfire and ran toward the source. Their body camera footage is blurry due to their movement but captures yelling and a single gunshot, followed by several additional shots. A Tennessee National Guard report indicates that two guard members left their vehicle and approached the suspect. The report states the suspect 'rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun at them.' Both guard members then fired their service weapons.

The troops were deployed to Memphis as part of a federal effort initiated by President Donald Trump. He sent troops and federal agents to several Democrat-run cities, including Memphis, citing high crime rates. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee deployed the Guard to support this operation. Between May and July, the task force was involved in four fatal shootings.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not yet decided whether to file charges in connection with Johnson’s death. A spokesperson for the Tennessee National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ed Yarbrough, an attorney representing the two guard members, said they have no comment at this time.

André C. Wharton, the attorney for Johnson’s family, emphasized that the investigation must focus on the reasonableness of the fatal shot. He noted that the released videos do not show the moments immediately before the shooting. 'This investigation must stay focused on the moment the guardsman fired the fatal shot and whether that action was reasonable,' Wharton said.

Evaniel Johnson, the victim’s grandfather, said Tyrin was the father of a young child and was preparing to help lead the family construction business. The body camera video shows at least six guard members at the scene shortly after the shooting. One guard member is seen moving a handgun on the ground until a police officer tells him to leave it alone. Just before the video ends, a guard member begins to cut off the man's shirt.