The grandfather of a 20-year-old man fatally shot by Tennessee National Guard members over the weekend is demanding the release of video footage, seeking to verify the official account of the incident. Tyrin Johnson was killed early Sunday in Memphis.
Evaniel Johnson, the victim's grandfather, stated that he wants to see if video evidence supports the narrative that his grandson turned toward U.S. guard members with a gun while fleeing from them. Memphis police indicated that the guard members were responding to a report of gunfire at the time.
The National Guard members involved in the shooting had been assigned to a crime-fighting patrol in Memphis, an initiative established last year by then-President Donald Trump. This program involved sending troops and federal agents to cities Trump characterized as crime-ridden.
"Show me the video," Evaniel Johnson told The Associated Press. "Please show me that — and then I’m OK. Until you show me that, I’m gonna fight and advocate for my grandson until there’s no breath in me."
Evaniel Johnson, a former correctional officer, expressed skepticism that his grandson would attempt to fire a weapon at guard members, particularly if he was running away. He described Tyrin Johnson as "no hoodlum."
According to his grandfather, Tyrin Johnson carried a gun for protection following a recent assault in Nashville and may have been concerned about further conflict related to a social media dispute. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is reviewing the shooting, and has informed the family that two guard members fired their weapons. The TBI also stated that Tyrin Johnson was shot twice in the chest. The Memphis Police Department declined to comment on the existence or release of any footage.
Tennessee Senate Democratic leaders Raumesh Akbari and London Lamar, both from Memphis, issued a joint statement offering their condolences and emphasizing the necessity of transparency throughout the investigation. They urged the TBI to release any available video as soon as possible without compromising the investigation.
State Rep. Justin Pearson, a Democrat seeking a U.S. House seat, also called for a transparent investigation and advocated for the disbanding of the federal task force. He stated, "Memphis does not need armed soldiers in our streets terrifying our people."
President Trump's decision to deploy Tennessee National Guard troops to Memphis to combat crime received a mixed reception and faced a lawsuit, though it did not result in widespread protests. TBI data indicates that at least three individuals have died in four separate shootings involving officers connected to the federal task force. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supported the federal intervention, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young adopted a pragmatic stance, acknowledging the troops' presence despite not requesting them.
Online court records show Tyrin Johnson had a minimal criminal history, primarily traffic violations. In May, he was arrested for failing to appear at a driving without a license hearing. He was enrolled at Tennessee State University from August 2023 to May 2024. Evaniel Johnson had hoped his grandson would return to university and was grooming him to manage a family real estate development project.
Evaniel Johnson shared that his family had gathered on July 4th, and he wished his grandson had stayed with them instead of going to Memphis. "He was down there like all the rest of the people trying to enjoy the Fourth of July," Johnson said. "His future was buying homes, living life, taking care of his little baby. He had a future. It’s gone now."