Autopsy Indicates Tennessee Guard Shot 20-Year-Old in Back, Contradicting Police Account
An autopsy report shows the fatal bullet entered the victim's back, conflicting with law-enforcement statements that he faced the guards, and the case remains under investigation.
An autopsy performed by the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center found that a single bullet entered the right side of 20-year-old Tyrion Johnson's back and exited his upper chest, suggesting he was shot while moving away from the shooters. The findings contradict a Tennessee National Guard report that said Johnson turned toward the guards and pointed a handgun before being shot.
According to the guard report, two members of the Memphis Safe Task Force responded to a police call about gunfire, approached Johnson, and fired their M17 service pistols after he allegedly pointed a tan handgun at them. Memphis police arrived shortly after. The autopsy noted no soot, gunpowder stippling, or muzzle imprint around the wound, indicating the shot was fired from a distance of more than three feet.
Family members, including Johnson's grandfather Evaniel Johnson, have questioned the justification for the shooting and have requested surveillance footage, which authorities have not yet provided. Attorney Andre Wharton said the law-enforcement narrative does not align with the medical evidence.
The death is classified as a homicide, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's investigation remains open and ongoing. No criminal charges have been filed to date.