Prosecutors release video of Memphis National Guard shooting

Shelby County prosecutors released body camera and street footage on Monday showing the moments after Tennessee National Guard members fatally shot a 20-year-old man in Memphis. The video captures the scene on a sidewalk where the guard members kept their handguns trained on the man as he lay dying.

The footage, which also includes audio from a police officer and video from a bystander's phone, shows a Memphis police officer calling for an ambulance. The officer then asks the troops, "Hey, you guys got a medical kit or anything?" At least six guard members are visible at the scene immediately after the shooting.

Tyrin Johnson died at the scene from a single gunshot wound. Investigators stated he was armed. An autopsy report obtained by his family indicates he was shot in the back. This finding contradicts earlier accounts from police and the National Guard, which stated Johnson was facing the troops with a gun when they fired.

André C. Wharton, the attorney for Johnson's family, noted that the released video does not show the initial encounter or the split seconds before the fatal shot. Wharton said the investigation must focus on whether the guard member's action was reasonable. He described the timing of the shooting as a critical question for investigators.

"This investigation must stay focused on the moment the guardsman fired the fatal shot and whether that action was reasonable," Wharton said in a statement reported by WREG. He added that the footage released does not capture the full sequence of events, including the threats Johnson was reportedly facing prior to the shooting.

The guard members were part of a federal task force created by President Trump. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee deployed the Guard to support this effort in Democrat-run cities. The task force was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July. Johnson was the father of a young child and planned to help lead a family construction business, according to his grandfather, Evaniel Johnson.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he has not yet decided whether to file charges. A spokesperson for the Tennessee National Guard did not respond to requests for comment. Ed Yarbrough, an attorney for the two guard members, said they have no comment at this time.

Authorities said the troops were responding to reports of gunshots around 4 a.m. when they pursued an armed man fleeing on foot. Street camera footage shows a person in dark clothing firing shots through an empty parking lot at three people on a sidewalk. Two police officers heard the gunshots and began running toward the source. The video is blurry and captures yelling, a single gunshot, and several additional shots.