Video shows guard troops aiming guns at dying man in Memphis

Tennessee National Guard members aimed their handguns at a dying man in Memphis last summer, video released Monday by county prosecutors shows.

The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office released the footage to aid the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s ongoing inquiry. The incident occurred on July 5, 2026, when troops shot Tyrin Johnson, 20, in the back. Johnson died at the scene from a single gunshot wound. An autopsy report shared by his family confirmed the wound location, which conflicts with initial police and Guard accounts that stated he was facing the officers with a gun.

The released material includes bodycam video, stationary camera footage, and a bystander’s cellphone recording. The bodycam clip does not capture the initial encounter or the moment the shot was fired. It begins after the shooting, showing guard members shouting “Hands!” and “Turn over!” while pointing their M17 service handguns at Johnson, who lay on his back on the sidewalk. A Memphis police officer is heard asking the troops, “Hey, you guys got a medical kit or anything?” before calling for an ambulance.

André C. Wharton, an attorney for Johnson’s family, emphasized that the investigation must focus on the reasonableness of the fatal shot. “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, stated that Tyrin was a young father preparing to help lead the family construction business.

Authorities reported that the troops were part of a federal task force supporting local police. They responded to reports of gunshots around 4 a.m. and pursued an armed man on foot. A Guard report indicated the suspect rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun, prompting both members to fire. The task force was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July 2026. District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not yet decided whether to file charges.

The bodycam video shows at least six guard members at the scene immediately after the shooting. One guard is seen moving a handgun on the ground until a police officer instructs him to leave it alone. Another guard begins cutting off Johnson’s shirt just before the video ends. A spokesperson for the Tennessee National Guard did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ed Yarbrough, an attorney for the two guard members, said they have no comment at this time.