New Footage Shows Guard Troops Aiming Weapons at Dying Memphis Victim

Key points

• Shelby County District Attorney's Office released body camera, stationary camera, and bystander cellphone footage of the aftermath of the July 5, 2025, shooting of Tyrin Johnson in Memphis.
• The footage shows National Guard troops pointing M17 handguns at Johnson as he lay on the sidewalk, with one member cutting off his shirt before the video ends.
• An autopsy report obtained by Johnson's family states he was shot in the back, contradicting National Guard accounts that he was facing the troops with a gun when they fired.
• The guard members were part of a federal task force deployed by President Trump and Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to support crime-fighting efforts in Democrat-run cities.
• The task force was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July 2025, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is continuing its probe into the incident.
• District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not yet decided whether to file charges, and attorneys for the guard members have declined to comment.

Background

This incident is part of a broader pattern of fatal shootings involving federal task forces deployed to cities with Democratic leadership. The task force was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July 2025. Recent coverage in our archive has highlighted other controversial police shootings, such as the fatal shooting of a toddler in Mississippi, where body camera footage also sparked debate over the justification of force. These cases reflect ongoing tensions between federal and local authorities regarding the use of force and accountability in high-profile incidents.

Why it matters

The release of this footage raises critical questions about the use of force by federal task forces and the accountability of National Guard members in high-profile incidents. The contradiction between the autopsy findings and the guard's account highlights the need for thorough investigations and transparency in cases involving fatal shootings. The decision by District Attorney Steve Mulroy on whether to file charges will be a key factor in determining the legal and public response to this incident.

What to watch

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will continue its probe into the July 5 shooting, and District Attorney Steve Mulroy will decide whether to file charges. The release of the footage may also lead to further public scrutiny and calls for accountability from the National Guard and federal task force.