Tennessee Guard report says Tyrin Johnson pointed a gun before troops shot him; the autopsy found the bullet entered his back
Tennessee National Guard members on Memphis task force patrol shot and killed Tyrin Johnson, 20, in July. A Guard report says he pointed a gun at them; the autopsy found the bullet entered his back. No charges have been filed.
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Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Two Tennessee National Guard members on Memphis Safe Task Force patrol shot and killed Tyrin Johnson, 20, on July 5, 2026, after he ran from police with a handgun. A Guard report says he pointed a gun at them, while the autopsy found a single bullet entered his back. Videos released by the district attorney in November do not show the shooting, and the TBI investigation continues.
Read the full background
President Trump created the Memphis Safe Task Force in 2025, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee deployed National Guard troops to support it. The AP reports that the task force was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July 2026.
At about 4 a.m. on July 5, 2026, Memphis police officers in the downtown entertainment area heard gunshots and chased a man carrying a handgun, later identified as Tyrin Johnson, 20. National Guard members joined the pursuit. After Johnson turned onto Union Avenue, two Guard members fired at him, according to the Shelby County District Attorney's Office, and he died at the scene. Memphis police said at the time that Johnson turned toward the Guard members with his weapon. A Guard report obtained by the AP says he "rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun at them."
On August 27, an autopsy report shared by Johnson's family showed that a single bullet entered the right side of his back and exited through his upper right chest. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. The report's investigative narrative, based on a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent's account, says Johnson drew a firearm and was struck in the chest.
On November 2, District Attorney Steve Mulroy released four videos from street cameras, a police body camera and a bystander's phone. The AP reports that street-camera footage shows a person in dark clothing firing shots across a parking lot toward three people on a sidewalk. Johnson's relatives told WMC Action News 5 that he fired warning shots. The footage does not show the Guard members' encounter with Johnson or the shooting itself.
The TBI's investigation is ongoing and no charges have been filed. Mulroy says the video release is not a decision on charges. A lawyer for the two Guard members said they had no comment.
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: July 5, 2026 to November 2, 2026
July 2026
Two Tennessee National Guard members shoot and kill Tyrin Johnson in downtown Memphis
Incident
Memphis police officers chase Johnson, who is carrying a handgun, after hearing gunshots. Guard members who joined the pursuit fire at him on Union Avenue, and he dies at the scene. Police say he turned toward the Guard members with his weapon.
[01]DA's Office Releases Video in Officer-Involved Shooting Death of Tyrin Johnson
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office says it is releasing video of the July 5, 2026 shooting in which National Guard members fired at Tyrin Johnson, that the TBI investigation is nearing completion, and that the release is not a decision on criminal charges. It summarizes the investigative reports and says the medical examiner found the gunshot wound entered Johnson's back and exited through his chest.
[02]WMC Action News 5
WMC Action News 5 publishes a joint statement from state Sens. Raumesh Akbari and London Lamar calling for an independent TBI investigation and the release of body camera and surveillance video, and reports the Memphis Police Department's account of the shooting.
Memphis leaders call for answers after fatal National Guard shooting · WMC Action News 5Full articleSens. Raumesh Akbari and London Lamar call for an independent investigation and the release of video
Reaction
In a joint statement, the two Memphis senators ask the TBI for a thorough, independent investigation and the release of body camera and surveillance video once that would not harm the investigation.
[02]WMC Action News 5
WMC Action News 5 publishes a joint statement from state Sens. Raumesh Akbari and London Lamar calling for an independent TBI investigation and the release of body camera and surveillance video, and reports the Memphis Police Department's account of the shooting.
Memphis leaders call for answers after fatal National Guard shooting · WMC Action News 5Full article
August 2026
Autopsy report shows Johnson was shot in the back
Source release
An autopsy report shared by Johnson's family shows a single bullet entered the right side of his back and exited through his chest. The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
[03]Associated Press
The AP reports the autopsy findings shared by Johnson's family, the Guard report's account that Johnson pointed a handgun at the troops, a forensic pathologist's reading of the wound's path, and comments from Johnson's grandfather and the family's lawyer.
Autopsy shows Tennessee National Guard fatally shot 20-year-old armed man in the back · Associated PressFull article, AP copy published by WCPO[04]WMC Action News 5
WMC Action News 5 reports the medical examiner's findings, the earlier police account of the shooting, comments from the family's lawyer, and statements from state Sens. London Lamar and Raumesh Akbari.
Family lawyer speaks after autopsy report shows National Guard shot Memphis man in the back · WMC Action News 5Full article
November 2026
District attorney releases four videos of the shooting's aftermath
Source release
Steve Mulroy releases street-camera, body-camera and bystander video as the TBI investigation continues. The footage does not show the shooting itself, and Mulroy says no decision on charges has been made.
[01]DA's Office Releases Video in Officer-Involved Shooting Death of Tyrin Johnson
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office says it is releasing video of the July 5, 2026 shooting in which National Guard members fired at Tyrin Johnson, that the TBI investigation is nearing completion, and that the release is not a decision on criminal charges. It summarizes the investigative reports and says the medical examiner found the gunshot wound entered Johnson's back and exited through his chest.
[05]Associated Press
The AP describes the four videos released by Shelby County prosecutors, quotes a Tennessee National Guard report saying Johnson pointed a handgun at the Guard members, reports that the footage does not show the shooting itself, and quotes the lawyers for Johnson's family and for the two Guard members.
Bodycam video shows aftermath of fatal shooting by National Guard in Memphis · Associated PressFull article, AP copy published by News4JAX[06]WMC Action News 5
WMC Action News 5 describes the four videos, identifies the two Guard members who fired, and reports comments from a former sheriff's captain, the family's lawyer and District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
DA releases 4 videos of National Guard shooting that killed Tyrin Johnson in downtown Memphis · WMC Action News 5Full article
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Tennessee National Guard
Tyrin Johnson turned on the two Tennessee National Guard members who were chasing him and pointed a handgun at them before they fired.
What is disputed
The medical examiner's autopsy found a single gunshot wound that entered the right side of Johnson's back and exited through his upper right chest. Johnson's family and its lawyer say law enforcement's account does not match those findings. The videos released by the district attorney do not show the shooting itself.
Sources (2)
- Autopsy shows Tennessee National Guard fatally shot 20-year-old armed man in the back · Associated PressFull article, AP copy published by WCPO
- Bodycam video shows aftermath of fatal shooting by National Guard in Memphis · Associated PressFull article, AP copy published by News4JAX
Response record
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(6)
Official statement
DA's Office Releases Video in Officer-Involved Shooting Death of Tyrin Johnson
Relevant passage: Full news release
About this source
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office says it is releasing video of the July 5, 2026 shooting in which National Guard members fired at Tyrin Johnson, that the TBI investigation is nearing completion, and that the release is not a decision on criminal charges. It summarizes the investigative reports and says the medical examiner found the gunshot wound entered Johnson's back and exited through his chest.
- Author
- Shelby County District Attorney's Office
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Memphis leaders call for answers after fatal National Guard shooting
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
WMC Action News 5 publishes a joint statement from state Sens. Raumesh Akbari and London Lamar calling for an independent TBI investigation and the release of body camera and surveillance video, and reports the Memphis Police Department's account of the shooting.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
DA releases 4 videos of National Guard shooting that killed Tyrin Johnson in downtown Memphis
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
WMC Action News 5 describes the four videos, identifies the two Guard members who fired, and reports comments from a former sheriff's captain, the family's lawyer and District Attorney Steve Mulroy.
- Author
- Joyce Peterson
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Family lawyer speaks after autopsy report shows National Guard shot Memphis man in the back
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
WMC Action News 5 reports the medical examiner's findings, the earlier police account of the shooting, comments from the family's lawyer, and statements from state Sens. London Lamar and Raumesh Akbari.
- Author
- Joyce Peterson
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Autopsy shows Tennessee National Guard fatally shot 20-year-old armed man in the back
Relevant passage: Full article, AP copy published by WCPO
About this source
The AP reports the autopsy findings shared by Johnson's family, the Guard report's account that Johnson pointed a handgun at the troops, a forensic pathologist's reading of the wound's path, and comments from Johnson's grandfather and the family's lawyer.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Bodycam video shows aftermath of fatal shooting by National Guard in Memphis
Relevant passage: Full article, AP copy published by News4JAX
About this source
The AP describes the four videos released by Shelby County prosecutors, quotes a Tennessee National Guard report saying Johnson pointed a handgun at the Guard members, reports that the footage does not show the shooting itself, and quotes the lawyers for Johnson's family and for the two Guard members.
- Author
- Kristin M. Hall and Hannah Schoenbaum
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Tennessee Guard report says Tyrin Johnson pointed a gun before troops shot him; the autopsy found the bullet entered his back
- First published
- Last updated
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The Dispute Index. "Tennessee Guard report says Tyrin Johnson pointed a gun before troops shot him; the autopsy found the bullet entered his back". First published: 2026-11-08. Last updated: 2026-11-08. https://disputeindex.com/cases/tennessee-national-guard-shooting-tyrin-johnson-memphis