Shelby County DA releases bodycam footage of Memphis National Guard fatal shooting

Key points

• Shelby County District Attorney’s Office released body camera, stationary camera, and bystander cellphone footage of the aftermath of the July 5 shooting of 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson in Memphis.
• The videos show at least six National Guard members on scene, with some pointing M17 handguns at Johnson as he lay on his back, and a guard member cutting off his shirt before the footage ends.
• An autopsy report obtained by Johnson’s family states he was shot in the back, contradicting National Guard and police accounts that he was facing them with a gun when fired upon.
• The released footage does not show the moments immediately before the shooting or the initial encounter between Johnson and the guard members.
• District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not yet decided whether to file charges, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues its inquiry.
• The guard members were part of a federal task force created by President Trump and deployed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, which was involved in four fatal shootings between May and July 2026.

Background

This incident is part of a broader pattern of federal task force deployments to Democrat-run cities, which President Trump described as overrun with crime. The task force in Memphis was involved in multiple fatal shootings during the summer of 2026, raising questions about the use of force and the coordination between federal and local law enforcement. The release of body camera footage comes amid ongoing investigations into the circumstances of Johnson’s death and the credibility of official accounts.

How outlets are covering it

CBS News and NBC News both emphasize the contradiction between the autopsy findings and the National Guard’s official account, highlighting the lack of footage showing the moment of the shooting. The Daily Memphian focuses on the local impact and the release of the videos by the Shelby County DA. All sources note that the videos do not capture the initial encounter or the fatal shot, which the family’s attorney, André C. Wharton, argues is critical to determining whether the use of force was reasonable. The National Guard and the guard members’ attorney have declined to comment.

Why it matters

The release of this footage is significant as it provides public insight into the aftermath of a fatal shooting by federal troops in a U.S. city, raising questions about the use of force and the transparency of federal task force operations. The contradiction between the autopsy and official accounts underscores the need for a thorough and unbiased investigation, as emphasized by the family’s attorney. The case also highlights the broader implications of federal deployments to local law enforcement and the potential for racial and political tensions in such operations.

What to watch

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation will continue its inquiry into the July 5 shooting, and District Attorney Steve Mulroy will decide whether to file charges. The family’s attorney is working to obtain all critical evidence, including footage of the moments before the shooting. The National Guard and the guard members’ attorney have not yet responded to requests for comment, and the public awaits further developments in the investigation.