Tyrin Johnson, a 20-year-old man, was fatally shot in the back by Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a federal anti-crime taskforce in Memphis, according to an autopsy report obtained by the Associated Press. This finding contradicts police accounts that stated Johnson was facing the troops when he was shot.
Authorities reported that Johnson turned toward the guard members with a gun while running from them in the early morning hours after the Fourth of July holiday. However, the autopsy report shared by Johnson’s family indicates that a single bullet entered through the right side of his back and exited through his upper right chest. The report was prepared by the West Tennessee regional forensic center's office of the medical examiner, which did not respond to a request for comment.
The guard members were part of the Memphis Safe Task Force, established by former President Donald Trump, which was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July. Evaniel Johnson, Tyrin's grandfather, stated that the guard members had no justification for shooting his grandson in the back, emphasizing that he posed no threat.
Memphis police responded to a call about shots fired nearby and reported seeing a person armed with a gun leaving the area. According to a Tennessee National Guard report, two guard members approached the suspect after responding to a police radio call. The report claims that Johnson rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun before both troops fired their service weapons.
The autopsy report noted that the bullet had a slightly upward trajectory through Johnson’s body, suggesting he was running away from the shooter. Dr. Steven White, a forensic pathologist who reviewed the report, indicated that the absence of soot, gunpowder stippling, or muzzle imprint around the wound suggested Johnson was likely shot from more than three feet away.
Evaniel Johnson called for transparency and accountability regarding the shooting, stating, "You shot him in the back. I just want to make sure somebody be responsible for what happened."
An investigative narrative from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation claims Johnson was turning toward law enforcement with a gun at the time of the shooting. However, Andre Wharton, an attorney for Johnson’s family, pointed out the discrepancies between law enforcement accounts and the autopsy findings.
The manner of death is classified as "homicide," which indicates a death caused by another person but does not imply intent or carry legal weight. As of now, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the incident. The TBI stated that the investigation is ongoing and directed inquiries to the medical examiner’s office. The Associated Press has a pending request for a copy of Johnson’s autopsy from the Shelby County medical examiner’s office. The autopsy report also noted that Johnson was carrying a handgun magazine with rounds, which is not illegal in Tennessee.