Autopsy Contradicts Official Account of Fatal Tennessee National Guard Shooting

An autopsy has raised significant questions about the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson by Tennessee National Guard members assigned to a federal anti-crime operation in Memphis.

Authorities previously said Johnson turned toward the troops with a gun as he ran from them during the early hours following the Fourth of July holiday. Initial accounts described him as being shot in the chest.

However, the autopsy report shared by Johnson’s family found that one bullet entered through the right side of his back before exiting through his upper-right chest.

No criminal charges have been filed, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says its inquiry remains open.

Official account says Johnson pointed a gun

Memphis police said officers responded to reports of gunfire several blocks from Beale Street and saw an armed person leaving the area.

A Tennessee National Guard report stated that two Guard members heard the police radio call, got out of their vehicle and approached the suspect.

According to that report, Johnson turned toward the troops and pointed a tan handgun at them. Both Guard members then fired their M17 service pistols before Memphis police arrived.

An investigative narrative included in the autopsy report presents a similar sequence. Based on information attributed to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agent, it says Johnson reached toward his waistband, drew a firearm and was then shot by law enforcement.

The physical findings in the autopsy, however, describe the bullet entering Johnson’s back rather than the front of his chest.

Independent pathologist reviews trajectory

The autopsy was conducted by the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center’s Office of the Medical Examiner. The office did not respond to a request for comment.

Dr. Steven White, a certified forensic pathologist who did not conduct the examination, reviewed the report.

White said the bullet travelled through Johnson’s body on a slightly upward path. He said that trajectory could be consistent with Johnson running away from the person who fired.

The report also found no soot, gunpowder stippling or muzzle imprint around the entry wound. According to White, that suggests Johnson was probably shot from a distance greater than 3 feet, or approximately 0.91 metres.

The autopsy lists the manner of death as homicide. In medical examinations, that classification generally means another person caused the death; it does not establish intent or automatically carry criminal significance.

Family attorney points to ‘blatant inconsistency’

Andre Wharton, an attorney representing Johnson’s family, said the physical findings do not appear to match the accounts provided by law enforcement.

He described a clear inconsistency between reports that Johnson turned and presented a weapon and evidence showing a single bullet entered his back.

The family has asked authorities to provide surveillance footage or other evidence demonstrating that Johnson pointed a gun at the Guard members.

Johnson’s grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, said the family still has not been shown video capturing the moments before the shooting.

A former correctional officer with the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office in Nashville, Evaniel argued that the troops had no justification to shoot his grandson in the back if he did not pose a threat.

He called for transparency and accountability, saying nothing could bring Tyrin back but someone should be held responsible for what occurred.

Ammunition reportedly found on Johnson

According to the autopsy report, Johnson was carrying a handgun magazine containing ammunition.

Wharton said possessing the ammunition was not illegal under Tennessee law. The report supplied in the article does not resolve the dispute over whether Johnson pointed a firearm at the troops.

The family continues to seek access to evidence that could clarify his actions immediately before the shooting.

The Associated Press has also requested a copy of the autopsy from the Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office. That request remains pending.

Investigation remains open

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the case is still under investigation. When asked to confirm the findings, the agency referred questions to the medical examiner’s office.

The Guard members involved were assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force, an operation established by President Donald Trump.

Trump sent National Guard troops and federal agents into several Democratic-led cities that he described as being overwhelmed by crime. His decision to deploy Tennessee National Guard members to Memphis received a mixed response from residents and prompted a lawsuit, although it did not produce widespread demonstrations.

Between May and July, the Memphis Safe Task Force was involved in four fatal shootings.

For Johnson’s relatives, the central issue remains the conflict between the official description of an armed man turning toward troops and an autopsy showing that the fatal bullet entered through his back. They are continuing to demand video and other evidence as investigators determine whether the shooting was justified.