The family of Tyrin Johnson, a 20-year-old man shot and killed by Tennessee National Guard members in Memphis, is demanding the release of video footage of the incident. Johnson's grandfather, Evaniel Johnson, stated he needs to see the video to confirm the official narrative that his grandson turned toward the guardsmen with a gun while fleeing from them early Sunday.
According to Memphis police, the National Guard members were responding to a report of gunfire. The guardsmen involved were part of a crime-fighting patrol in Memphis that was established last year by President Donald Trump, who has previously deployed troops and federal agents to cities he described as crime-ridden.
Evaniel Johnson, a former correctional officer, expressed skepticism that his grandson, who he said was "no hoodlum," would have attempted to fire a weapon at law enforcement, especially if he was running away. He suggested Tyrin Johnson carried a gun for protection after a recent assault in Nashville and may have been wary of further conflict stemming from a social media dispute.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) is currently reviewing the shooting. Family members have been informed by the TBI that Tyrin Johnson was shot twice in the chest. The Memphis Police Department declined to comment on the existence or potential release of video footage.
State lawmakers have joined the call for transparency. Tennessee Senate Democratic Leader Raumesh Akbari and Chairwoman London Lamar urged the TBI to release any available video as soon as possible without compromising the investigation. "Transparency serves everyone — the Johnson family, the members of the National Guard involved, and a community that deserves confidence in the outcome, whatever the facts ultimately show," they said in a joint statement.
State Rep. Justin Pearson, who is running for the U.S. House, echoed these demands and called for the federal task force to be disbanded, stating, "Memphis does not need armed soldiers in our streets terrifying our people."
The deployment of Tennessee National Guard troops to Memphis under the federal initiative has received mixed reactions. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee supported the intervention, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young noted that while he did not request the troops, they were being deployed regardless of his stance.
Records indicate Tyrin Johnson had a minor driving-related history, including an arrest in May for failing to appear at a hearing for driving without a license. He was enrolled at Tennessee State University from August 2023 to May 2024. His grandfather had hoped he would return to university and was training him to manage a real estate development project in Nashville.
According to TBI data, at least three individuals have died in four shootings involving officers associated with the federal task force. Evaniel Johnson reflected on his grandson's lost future, noting that Tyrin Johnson had plans for his life, including caring for his child and developing a real estate career.