The short version
- An autopsy report reveals Tyrin Johnson was shot in the back, contradicting official statements that he turned toward guards with a gun.
- The incident involves members of the Memphis Safe Task Force, a federal unit established by President Trump to address crime in Democratic-led cities.
- Johnson’s family and legal representatives are demanding accountability, citing inconsistencies between forensic evidence and law enforcement narratives.
An autopsy report obtained by news organizations indicates that Tyrin Johnson, a twenty-year-old man killed in Memphis, was shot in the back by Tennessee National Guard members. This medical finding directly contradicts earlier statements from authorities who claimed Johnson turned toward the guards and pointed a firearm at them before being fatally struck in the chest. The discrepancy has intensified scrutiny of the use of federal troops in domestic law enforcement operations.
The shooting occurred in the early morning hours following the Fourth of July holiday. Memphis police responded to reports of gunfire near Beale Street and observed an armed individual leaving the scene. Two National Guard members, who were part of a joint task force, exited their vehicle to approach the suspect. According to a report from the National Guard, the men saw Johnson round on them with a tan handgun and subsequently fired their service weapons. Memphis police arrived shortly after the discharge of firearms.
However, forensic analysis paints a different picture of the final moments. The autopsy, conducted by the West Tennessee regional forensic center office of the medical examiner, documented a single bullet wound entering the right side of Johnson’s back and exiting through his upper right chest. Dr. Steven White, a certified forensic pathologist who reviewed the report for the Associated Press but did not perform the autopsy, noted that the upward trajectory of the bullet is consistent with a person running away from the shooter. The absence of soot or gunpowder stippling around the wound suggests Johnson was likely more than three feet from the guards when he was shot.
Evaniel Johnson, the victim’s grandfather and a former correctional officer, expressed outrage at the conflicting accounts. He argued that if his grandson did not pose an immediate threat, there was no justification for lethal force. His family’s attorney, Andre Wharton, highlighted what he described as blatant inconsistencies between the law enforcement narrative and the physical evidence. Wharton emphasized that the official story of a chest wound does not align with the forensic reality of a back entry wound.
The incident is part of a broader controversy surrounding the Memphis Safe Task Force. This unit was created by President Donald Trump last year as part of an initiative to deploy troops and federal agents to cities he characterized as overrun by crime. The task force has been involved in four fatal shootings between May and July, raising questions about the protocols and outcomes of this federal intervention in local policing matters.
Law enforcement officials have maintained that Johnson was turning toward officers with a weapon. An investigative narrative included in the autopsy report, based on an account from a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent, states that the unknown male grabbed his waistband and drew a firearm before being shot in the chest. This internal document supports the initial police assertion but conflicts with the medical examiner’s determination of the wound’s location and trajectory.
The manner of death was listed as homicide, a classification typically used when a death results from the actions of another person. This designation does not necessarily imply criminal intent or legal liability. To date, no criminal charges have been filed against the National Guard members involved in the shooting. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation stated that its probe remains open and ongoing, directing inquiries to the medical examiner’s office for confirmation of findings.
Johnson was found carrying a handgun magazine with rounds at the time of his death. His attorney noted that possessing ammunition is not illegal in Tennessee, distinguishing between carrying ammo and brandishing a weapon. The Shelby County medical examiner’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment or copies of the full autopsy report. As the investigation continues, the family seeks transparency and accountability, emphasizing that forensic evidence must guide the understanding of what transpired.
The case underscores the complexities of integrating federal military personnel into urban crime-fighting roles. With conflicting reports from official sources and medical experts, the incident highlights the challenges in establishing a unified factual record. The lack of immediate charges and the ongoing nature of the investigation leave the community awaiting further clarity on whether the use of force was justified under state and federal standards.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian World↗Tennessee national guard fatally shot armed man in back, autopsy shows
