MEMPHIS (Azat TV) – Shelby County prosecutors released four videos on Monday showing the immediate aftermath of the July 5 fatal shooting of 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson by National Guard members in downtown Memphis, The Guardian reported. The newly released footage includes recordings from police body cameras, stationary street cameras, and a bystander’s cellphone, intensifying public scrutiny over urban military patrols.
Johnson, a 20-year-old father and family construction business worker, died at the scene from a single gunshot wound. While initial reports and National Guard accounts asserted that Johnson was facing troops with a gun when they opened fire, an autopsy report shared by his family indicates he was shot in the back. The newly published videos do not capture the initial encounter or the fatal shots themselves, leaving critical questions about the confrontation unanswered.
Aftermath Footage and Police Response
The released body camera footage documents the chaotic moments immediately following the gunfire. A Memphis police officer is heard calling for an ambulance before asking the gathered guardsmen, “Hey, you guys got a medical kit or anything?” The Associated Press reported. At least six National Guard members were present at the scene, with video showing one guardsman attempting to move a handgun from the ground until a police officer directed him to leave it untouched.
According to a Tennessee National Guard report obtained via public records, two guardsmen had responded to a police radio call regarding gunshots at around 4 a.m. near AutoZone Park and Ida B. Wells. The report claims the suspect rounded on them and pointed a tan handgun, prompting both troops to fire their service M17 handguns. However, the available video evidence begins only after the shooting occurred, showing armed guardsmen pointing their handguns at Johnson as he lay dying on the sidewalk and shouting orders for him to turn over.
Subsequent reporting identified the two guardsmen who discharged their service weapons as 19-year-old Alyssa Hout and 20-year-old Dallas Jellineck, both hailing from the Knoxville area. Local law enforcement analysts noted that both individuals are younger than the minimum age requirement of 21 mandated for hiring as sworn officers with the Memphis Police Department, highlighting distinct training and experiential gaps between conventional municipal police forces and deployed military personnel.
Broader Context of Urban Deployments
The fatal encounter occurred amid a controversial federal deployment. The troops operating in Memphis were part of a federal task force established following directives from Donald Trump, who deployed military personnel and federal agents to Democratic-run cities. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee deployed the National Guard to support the initiative, which has faced mounting criticism following four fatal shootings between May and July.
Legal representatives for both sides have staked out positions as the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues its independent inquiry. André C. Wharton, an attorney representing Johnson’s family, emphasized that the investigation must center on the moment the fatal shot was fired and whether that use of force was legally reasonable. Former Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Captain Bennie Cobb observed that police and deputy recruits undergo rigorous training regarding Tennessee v. Garner, a 1985 U.S. Supreme Court precedent restricting deadly force to situations involving an immediate threat of death or serious injury.
Legal Uncertainty and Next Steps
Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy defended the decision to release the video files while the state investigation remains active, stating that the disclosure honors commitments to transparency without compromising the integrity of the ongoing TBI inquiry. Meanwhile, District Attorney Mulroy stated that a final decision on whether to file criminal charges has not yet been made.
Ed Yarbrough, an attorney representing the two involved National Guard members, declined to comment on the release of the videos or the conflicting autopsy findings. A spokesperson for the Tennessee National Guard similarly did not immediately respond to requests for comment from reporters regarding whether the guardsmen had been suspended from their operational duties.
The inquiry remains active under the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, with prosecutors reviewing body camera angles, bystander phone footage, and stationary camera recordings to piece together the sequence of events. The case underscores the profound legal, tactical, and operational complexities surrounding the integration of military personnel into municipal policing duties on urban streets.