A man who was shot Monday by Memphis Police after discharging a firearm into the Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South (MHA-FYOS) has been identified as a former student, according to a U.S. Congressman.
“We have recently learned that the shooter at the Margolin Hebrew Academy was himself Jewish and a former student at the school,” said Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09) in a statement. “I am pleased the academy had effective security and that the police acted quickly to protect students.”
According to reports, the suspect has been identified by friends and family as Joel Bowman, though the Memphis Police Department (MPD) has not yet confirmed that Bowman was the shooter.
In the early afternoon on Monday, an armed Bowman attempted to gain access to the school, but reportedly could not, according to MPD. He then fired his weapon from outside the school, before taking off and getting into his truck. He then reportedly fired more shots from the vehicle.
When MPD tracked him down, he reportedly exited his vehicle with the gun, and was shot.
No one was injured during the attack.
“I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation today,” said MPD Chief CJ Davis. “Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information needed to stop the suspect’s action.”
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has taken over the investigation, as it does with all officer-involved shootings.
MHA-FYOS issued a statement Tuesday about the incident.
“We are shocked and saddened by the events that took place at MHA-FYOS yesterday, and incredibly grateful to God that thanks to our school’s extensive security measures and the swift response by the Memphis Police Department, everyone is safe,” the school said on its Facebook page. “Thank you to the entire Memphis community and our friends around the world for your love and support. We stand united in our commitment to keeping all students and school staff members safe.”
WREG reported that Bowman’s father was shot and killed by police MPD officers 20 years ago.
No motive is known, and Bowman remains in critical condition at Regional One Health.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Crime Scene Tape” by Tony Webster. CC BY-SA 4.0.
@CCW I agree! Was there an armed guard/SRO? Armed school personnel? Why do they consider their level of security a success? The answer to these questions may well help inform the legislature during the special session. I’m guessing the answer does not involve the implementation of red flag laws.
Nothing I could find described the level of security at the school that prevented “shooter from entering the Memphis school”. What was the details of success there in the school actions. Not wanting to show secrets of their success to would-be future shooters, but didn’t the school response in preventing the shooter from entering campus SAVE LIVES and isn’t that the thrust of what readers may wan to see? Are there some gems in the school response that might be applied in other school responses to lethal attacks?