Video shows Tennessee Guard troops aiming guns at dying man shot in Memphis

Tennessee National Guard troops in Memphis aimed their handguns at a man lying on a sidewalk after a guard member shot him in the back, video released Monday by county prosecutors shows ¹. The man, Tyrin Johnson, 20, died at the scene on July 5 ¹.

The Shelby County district attorney's office released body camera footage from a Memphis police officer, plus street camera video and a bystander's cellphone video ¹. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the state's investigative agency, is still looking into the shooting ¹.

What the video shows

On the body camera video, a Memphis police officer calls for an ambulance and asks the troops whether they have a medical kit ¹. Guard members shout "Hands!" and "Turn over!" while pointing handguns at Johnson, who is on his back ¹.

At least six guard members were at the scene right after the shooting ¹. One moved a handgun on the ground until a police officer told him to leave it alone ¹. A guard member began cutting off Johnson's shirt just before the video ends ¹.

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The footage does not show the first encounter or the shots being fired ¹. Investigators say Johnson was armed and died from a single gunshot wound ¹.

Conflicting accounts

An autopsy report shared by Johnson's family found he was shot in the back ¹. That contradicts police and Guard accounts that he was facing the troops with a gun when they fired ¹. A Guard report obtained by the Associated Press said Johnson "rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun at them" ¹.

Early reports differed on the wounds. In July, the family said the investigators had told them Johnson was shot twice in the chest ². The autopsy shared by the family and described in the new report says one wound, to the back ¹. These are claims that investigators have not resolved publicly.

This investigation must stay focused on the moment the guardsman fired the fatal shot and whether that action was reasonable,

A federal task force, a Republican governor

The troops were part of a federal task force created by President Donald Trump, who last year sent troops and federal agents to Democratic-run cities he described as overrun with crime ¹. Republican Gov. Bill Lee deployed the Guard to support the effort ¹. The task force was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July ¹.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he has not decided whether to file charges ¹. A Tennessee National Guard spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment ¹. The attorney for the two guard members said they have no comment at this time ¹.

What happens next

The state investigation continues, and the findings will inform whether Mulroy brings charges ¹. In July, Democratic state legislators asked the investigators to release video once it would not hurt the inquiry ². State Rep. Justin Pearson and the ACLU of Tennessee called for the task force to be disbanded ².

That matters because the question goes beyond one shooting. When soldiers are deployed to patrol city streets, residents need to know who answers for it when someone dies. Johnson's grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, said in July he wanted to see video before accepting the police account ². Johnson was preparing to help lead the family business ¹.

The Record

1. Jul 5, 2026Tyrin Johnson, 20, is shot and killed by Tennessee National Guard members during a pursuit in Memphis ¹².
2. Jul 6, 2026Johnson's family demands the release of video, and Democratic legislators ask the TBI to release it when it would not harm the inquiry ².
3. Nov 2, 2026The Shelby County district attorney's office releases body camera, street camera and cellphone videos from the aftermath ¹.

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<h2>Video shows Tennessee Guard troops aiming guns at dying man shot in Memphis</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/video-shows-tennessee-guard-troops-aiming-guns-at-dying-man-shot-in-memphis">The GOP Files</a> on Monday, November 2, 2026.</em></p> <p>Tennessee National Guard troops in Memphis aimed their handguns at a man lying on a sidewalk after a guard member shot him in the back, video released Monday by county prosecutors shows . The man, Tyrin Johnson, 20, died at the scene on July 5 .</p> <p>The Shelby County district attorney&#39;s office released body camera footage from a Memphis police officer, plus street camera video and a bystander&#39;s cellphone video . The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the state&#39;s investigative agency, is still looking into the shooting .</p> <h2>What the video shows</h2> <p>On the body camera video, a Memphis police officer calls for an ambulance and asks the troops whether they have a medical kit . Guard members shout &quot;Hands!&quot; and &quot;Turn over!&quot; while pointing handguns at Johnson, who is on his back .</p> <p>At least six guard members were at the scene right after the shooting . One moved a handgun on the ground until a police officer told him to leave it alone . A guard member began cutting off Johnson&#39;s shirt just before the video ends .</p> <p>The footage does not show the first encounter or the shots being fired . Investigators say Johnson was armed and died from a single gunshot wound .</p> <h2>Conflicting accounts</h2> <p>An autopsy report shared by Johnson&#39;s family found he was shot in the back . That contradicts police and Guard accounts that he was facing the troops with a gun when they fired . A Guard report obtained by the Associated Press said Johnson &quot;rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun at them&quot; .</p> <p>Early reports differed on the wounds. In July, the family said the investigators had told them Johnson was shot twice in the chest . The autopsy shared by the family and described in the new report says one wound, to the back . These are claims that investigators have not resolved publicly.</p> <blockquote><p>This investigation must stay focused on the moment the guardsman fired the fatal shot and whether that action was reasonable,</p><p>&mdash; André C Wharton, attorney for Tyrin Johnson&#39;s family</p></blockquote> <h2>A federal task force, a Republican governor</h2> <p>The troops were part of a federal task force created by President Donald Trump, who last year sent troops and federal agents to Democratic-run cities he described as overrun with crime . Republican Gov. Bill Lee deployed the Guard to support the effort . The task force was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July .</p> <p>District Attorney Steve Mulroy said he has not decided whether to file charges . A Tennessee National Guard spokesperson did not immediately respond to requests for comment . The attorney for the two guard members said they have no comment at this time .</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>The state investigation continues, and the findings will inform whether Mulroy brings charges . In July, Democratic state legislators asked the investigators to release video once it would not hurt the inquiry . State Rep. Justin Pearson and the ACLU of Tennessee called for the task force to be disbanded .</p> <p>That matters because the question goes beyond one shooting. When soldiers are deployed to patrol city streets, residents need to know who answers for it when someone dies. Johnson&#39;s grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, said in July he wanted to see video before accepting the police account . Johnson was preparing to help lead the family business .</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/video-shows-tennessee-guard-troops-aiming-guns-at-dying-man-shot-in-memphis">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/video-shows-tennessee-guard-troops-aiming-guns-at-dying-man-shot-in-memphis.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Guardian, “Tennessee national guard trained guns on dying man after guard member shot him, video shows” (2026-11-03). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/02/tennessee-shooting-tyrin
2. AP via WTOP, “The family of a man shot by the Tennessee National Guard demands release of video” (2026-07-06). wtop.com/national/2026/07/the-family-of-a-man-shot-by-the-te

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