MEMPHIS, TN — Video released by Shelby County prosecutors shows Tennessee National Guard troops pointing handguns at Tyrin Johnson as he lay dying on a Memphis sidewalk after one of the guardsmen shot him in the back, according to Johnson’s family’s autopsy findings. The July 5 shooting remains under investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The Facts

• What: Video from body cameras, street cameras and a bystander’s cellphone shows the moments after a National Guard member shot Tyrin Johnson, 20, during a police response to gunfire.
• Where: The shooting happened on a sidewalk in Memphis, near an empty parking lot where shots were fired through the area.
• When: The shooting took place about 4 a.m. on July 5, and prosecutors released the video on Monday.
• Who: Johnson died at the scene after being shot once. Memphis police officers, National Guard members and county prosecutors were all on the scene or involved in the review.
• Charges: No charges have been filed. Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy has not decided whether to bring charges.
• Status: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is still investigating the fatal shooting.

What police say

Authorities said National Guard troops were working with Memphis police after reports of gunshots. Police began moving toward a man they believed was armed and running on foot. A Tennessee National Guard report said two guardsmen got out of their vehicle and approached the suspect during the chase.

The guard report said the man turned toward the troops and pointed a tan handgun at them. It said both guardsmen fired their M17 service weapons. Memphis police arrived shortly after that, according to the report.

The video released by prosecutors does not show the initial encounter or the actual shooting. It does show a Memphis officer asking for medical help and a kit after the shooting. In the footage, guardsmen can also be heard shouting commands at Johnson as he lies on the pavement.

Johnson’s family says an autopsy found he was shot in the back, which they say conflicts with the earlier police and Guard account that he was facing the troops when they fired.

The investigation

Shelby County prosecutors released the recordings while the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation continues to look into the death. The evidence includes body-camera video, fixed-camera footage and cellphone video recorded by a bystander.

Those recordings have become central because they show the scene after the shooting, but not the exact moment Johnson was hit. Family attorney André C. Wharton said the key question is whether the guardsman’s shot was reasonable.

The footage also shows several Guard members on the scene after the shooting. One is seen moving a handgun on the ground until an officer tells him to stop. Another starts cutting off Johnson’s shirt as officers call for an ambulance.

For cases like this, investigators typically compare witness statements, radio traffic, video, forensic findings and autopsy results to determine whether a use of force was lawful and consistent with department policy and state law.

What the charges mean

No criminal case has been filed yet, but any decision would likely turn on whether prosecutors believe the shooting was justified. In a case like this, charges could range from none at all to offenses tied to the use of force, depending on the evidence and applicable law.

If prosecutors file charges, the defendant would first appear in court for an initial proceeding, where charges are read and future hearings are set. A judge would then handle questions about bond, counsel and scheduling.

In a shooting investigation, prosecutors usually look closely at whether the person who fired believed there was an immediate threat and whether that belief was reasonable under the circumstances. Autopsy findings, video and officer statements can all matter in that review.

What happens next

Mulroy has said he has not yet decided whether to charge anyone in the shooting. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is still conducting its review, and the outcome could depend on the full evidence package.

If prosecutors decide against charges, that would likely end the criminal case. If they decide to file charges, the case would move into the court system and the public would learn more through filings, hearings and possible testimony.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).