Autopsy Findings Challenge Official Account
A recent autopsy has revealed critical details about the fatal shooting of Tyrin Johnson, a 20-year-old man killed by Tennessee National Guard members during a July 4 weekend incident in Memphis. The autopsy shows that Johnson was shot in the back, raising doubts about the initial police narrative.
Authorities claimed that Johnson had turned towards the soldiers and aimed a gun before they fired. However, the autopsy reported a bullet entering the right side of his back and exiting through his chest. The trajectory was from back to front, moving slightly upwards and to the right, with no soot or close-range markings, suggesting distance at the time of shooting.
Family and Legal Concerns
Andre Wharton, representing Johnson’s family, expressed heightened concerns following the autopsy. “The findings reinforce our serious concerns regarding Tyrin’s shooting and his encounter with the Memphis Safe Task Force,” Wharton remarked. The family questions the disparity between the autopsy results and the initial accounts by officers and task force members.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation acknowledged that the case remains open but refrained from sharing further details. Meanwhile, the Tennessee National Guard, Memphis Police Department, and Shelby County Medical Examiner’s Office have not commented publicly.
Calls for Transparency
Johnson’s family has urged the release of surveillance footage and evidence related to the shooting. They argue this could provide clarity on the moments leading up to the incident. The autopsy classified Johnson’s death as a “homicide,” indicating it resulted from another person’s action. However, this does not automatically imply criminal intent.
No criminal charges have been filed yet, and the investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues.
Context and Unresolved Questions
Johnson was carrying a magazine with rounds, which is not illegal in Tennessee, according to his attorney. What remains uncertain is Johnson’s exact actions before being shot. If he indeed posed a threat, as the initial account suggests, the autopsy alone does not prove the shooting unlawful.
Johnson had previously attended Tennessee State University and had future plans in the family’s real estate development business, as noted by his grandfather and a university spokesperson.
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