The DA's office released video Monday of the July 5 downtown shooting in which two National Guard soldiers killed Tyrin Johnson. No charging decision has been made.

The Shelby County District Attorney’s Office on Monday released video of the July 5 shooting in downtown Memphis in which two Tennessee National Guard soldiers fired at Tyrin Johnson. Johnson, 20, died at the scene.

The office said the release does not represent a determination on criminal charges. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry is “nearing completion but remains ongoing,” the office said.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy said in the release:

“I made a commitment to release videos when doing so would not interfere with an investigation. At this time, releasing the video will not compromise the work the TBI has done so far or its ability to complete the investigation. We’re honoring our commitment to transparency while that work continues.”

The office published the footage in a shared folder linked from its release.

What the district attorney’s office said happened

The DA’s office summarized the investigative reports in its release. According to those reports:

  • Two Memphis Police Department officers were in the downtown entertainment zone July 5 when they heard shots.
  • The officers reported seeing a man carrying a handgun, “zig-zagging and ducking” in the area the shots had come from.
  • They called to the man, later identified as Johnson, to make contact.
  • Johnson ran, and the officers chased him on foot. National Guard members joined the pursuit.
  • After Johnson turned onto Union Avenue, two National Guard members fired at him.

The medical examiner found that Johnson died from a gunshot wound that entered his back and exited through his chest, the office said.

What the TBI said at the time

The TBI opened its investigation at Mulroy’s request. In its statement the day of the shooting, the bureau said the shooting happened at about 4 a.m. near Ida B. Wells Avenue and Union Avenue.

The soldiers were assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force, the TBI said. It said Johnson “reportedly fired shots in the area” before the pursuit. “For reasons under investigation, the situation escalated,” the bureau said. No law enforcement officers were hurt.

The TBI said it acts only as a fact-finder and does not decide whether an officer’s actions were justified. That decision rests with the district attorney. The bureau does not identify the officers involved. It lists the case on its officer-involved shootings page as involving the Tennessee National Guard and the Memphis Safe Task Force.

What happens next

  • The TBI will finish its investigation and give its findings to the district attorney’s office.
  • Mulroy will then decide whether the shooting was legally justified or whether anyone should be charged.
  • “No charging decisions have been made, as TBI’s investigation is ongoing,” the DA’s office said.

The TBI said updates would be posted at TBINewsroom.com.

What it means for you

No decision on charges has been made, and the video release does not change that. The next step is the TBI handing its findings to the district attorney. We will update this page when the TBI finishes or the DA’s office announces a decision.

Our Police and Fire log lists the Memphis Police Department’s own published releases each week. To ask about a correction, use our corrections and removal route.