Newly released footage from prosecutors in Tennessee has raised serious questions about the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson by a National Guard member in Memphis. The videos show several armed soldiers pointing their handguns at Johnson as he lay injured on a sidewalk, moments after being shot.
Video Reveals Moments After Fatal Shooting
Body camera footage from a Memphis police officer shows Johnson lying on his back on a sidewalk while Tennessee National Guard members point their handguns toward him.
A police officer can be heard requesting an ambulance before asking the soldiers whether they have any medical equipment.
"Hey, you guys got a medical kit or anything?" the officer asks.
The footage also captures soldiers shouting commands such as "Hands!" and "Turn over!" while keeping their weapons trained on the injured man.
At least six National Guard members were present shortly after the shooting, according to the video. One soldier is seen moving a handgun lying on the ground before a police officer instructs him to leave it untouched.
An officer subsequently requests an ambulance over the radio. Near the end of the footage, a National Guard member begins cutting away Johnson's shirt.
Autopsy Findings Raise Questions About Shooting
Tyrin Johnson, 20, died at the scene from a single gunshot wound, according to investigators.
However, an autopsy report shared by Johnson's family reportedly found that the bullet entered his back. This finding contradicts the initial accounts provided by police and National Guard representatives, who said Johnson was facing the soldiers with a firearm when they opened fire.
The released footage includes recordings from police body cameras, stationary street cameras and a bystander’s cellphone. None of these recordings shows the complete encounter immediately before the shooting.
Street camera footage reportedly captures a person wearing dark clothing firing shots across an empty parking lot while three people walk along a nearby sidewalk.
Two Memphis police officers hear the gunfire and begin moving toward the location. They later report over their radios that they are pursuing an armed individual running from the scene.
One officer's body camera records shouting followed by the sound of a gunshot and several additional gunfire noises. However, the unclear footage does not establish precisely what happened during the confrontation.
National Guard Report Offers Different Account
A Tennessee National Guard report obtained by the Associated Press through a public records request provides the military's account of the incident.
According to the report, two National Guard members responded to a Memphis police radio call about gunfire at approximately 4 a.m. They left their vehicle and approached the suspect, who allegedly turned toward them and pointed a tan handgun.
Both soldiers then fired their service weapons, identified as M17 handguns, the report stated.
Memphis police officers arrived shortly afterward.
However, Johnson's family's attorney, André C. Wharton, has emphasized that the newly released recordings do not show the moments leading directly to the shooting.
He argued that investigators must concentrate on the circumstances surrounding the fatal shot and determine whether the soldier's actions were justified.
Federal Taskforce Faces Scrutiny Over Fatal Shootings
The National Guard members involved in the incident were part of a federal taskforce established under US President Donald Trump.
The initiative involved deploying military personnel and federal agents to several Democratic-led American cities as part of an effort to address crime.
Tennessee Republican Governor Bill Lee had deployed National Guard personnel to Memphis to support the federal operation.
The taskforce was reportedly involved in four fatal shootings between May and July, raising broader concerns about the use of armed federal personnel in domestic law enforcement operations.
The investigation into Johnson's death remains ongoing.
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he has not yet decided whether criminal charges will be filed in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Tennessee National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ed Yarbrough, the attorney representing the two National Guard members involved, said they had no comment at this time.
Family Remembers Johnson as a Young Father
Johnson's death has left his family seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
According to his grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, the 20-year-old was the father of a young child and was preparing to take on a leadership role in the family's construction business.
His family's legal representative has called for a thorough investigation into the shooting, particularly the decision to use deadly force.
As investigators continue examining the available recordings, witness accounts and forensic evidence, the central question remains whether the National Guard member's use of lethal force was justified.
The findings of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the district attorney's office will be crucial in determining whether anyone involved in the incident faces criminal charges.
The case has also renewed public attention on the accountability of military personnel deployed for domestic security operations in the United States.