An autopsy obtained by local media shows Tyrin Johnson, the 20-year-old who was killed during a July confrontation with members of the Tennessee National Guard in downtown Memphis, was shot from the back and died of a single gunshot wound, according to medical findings released Aug. 28.
Autopsy details and official status
The autopsy report states the gunshot entered the right side of Johnson’s back and exited on the upper right side of his chest. The medical examiner found no evidence of gunshot stippling, soot or a muzzle imprint at the wound site, indicating the wound was inflicted at range rather than at close contact.
The cause of death is listed as a gunshot wound and the manner of death is recorded as a homicide. A ruling of homicide by the medical examiner does not itself determine whether a criminal act occurred or whether the shooting was justified under the law; that determination falls to investigators and, if applicable, prosecutors.
| Item | Finding |
|---|---|
| Entry wound | Right side of back |
| Exit wound | Upper right side of chest |
| Number of distinct gunshot wounds reported | One |
| Toxicology | No positive findings for drugs or alcohol |
| Personal effects noted | Handgun magazine with rounds (no handgun listed) |
Events leading up to the shooting
Memphis police and National Guard personnel were responding to a shots-fired call in the early-hours of July 5, shortly before 4 a.m., in downtown Memphis. Officials said officers and Guard members saw several people leaving the area and pursued a man they described as armed. The National Guard has previously said that Johnson turned toward Guard members while holding a weapon.
Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, a Guard spokesperson, said the Guard was in the area as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force.
The Guard has been deployed in Memphis since last fall under a memorandum from the Trump administration that placed National Guard personnel in several cities to assist with crime reduction efforts. Memphis is among those cities where Guard forces have been assigned to partner with local authorities.
Investigation and unanswered questions
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead on the probe into the shooting. Officials have acknowledged that two members of the National Guard discharged their weapons during the encounter, but the autopsy report identifies only a single gunshot wound to Johnson. Investigators have not publicly said whether Johnson pointed a firearm at the Guard members or whether any Guard member was struck or otherwise endangered.
Additional questions remain about the items listed in the autopsy report: it records a handgun magazine with rounds among Johnson’s personal effects but does not list an actual handgun. The timing, distance and sequence of the shots, as well as any body-worn camera, security camera or witness evidence, will be central to the TBI’s review.
Community leaders and civil rights advocates have previously raised concerns about the presence and role of military personnel in civilian law enforcement operations. The facts assembled so far — a death ruled a homicide by autopsy, a single gunshot wound from the rear, and an ongoing state investigation — are likely to intensify public interest and scrutiny as investigators compile additional evidence.
- Who: Victim identified as 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson.
- When: Early morning hours of July 5; autopsy released Aug. 28.
- Investigators: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation handling the case.
The TBI has not released a timeline for completion of its investigation or indicated whether it will refer the matter to a prosecutor for review. Until investigators release more information, many of the forensic and testimonial details that will determine whether the shooting was lawful remain unknown.
As the probe continues, city officials, legal authorities and community stakeholders in Memphis are expected to follow the case closely, given the broader debate over the use of National Guard forces in urban policing and the high level of public concern after a fatal encounter downtown.
Reporting for this article relied on the autopsy obtained by local outlets and statements previously issued by National Guard spokespeople and law enforcement officials.
