Man Opens Fire Outside Jewish School in Memphis After Being Denied Entry

After allegedly firing rounds at a Jewish school in Memphis, Tennessee, on Monday afternoon, authorities shot a guy. According to Memphis Police Assistant Chief Don Crowe, Memphis police were summoned to the Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South at about 12:20 p.m. ET after an armed man attempted to enter the institution.

The suspect allegedly attempted to enter the structure but was unsuccessful. When he was unable to enter, Crowe claimed, “he fired shots outside the school.” At the school, no one was hurt. Police received a picture and a description of the suspect’s maroon Dodge Ram pickup truck from school officials.

Soon after, Memphis police officers located a car that matched the description and stopped the driver. An officer shot the man as he exited the truck with a gun, according to Crowe. The suspect is in critical condition after being transferred to a nearby hospital. The shooter is Jewish and a former student of the school, according to US Representative Steve Cohen, who represents the Memphis region.

The Tennessee Holler also covered the news on its official Twitter account:

FOX 13: “A man who tried to force his way into a Memphis Jewish school with a gun was shot by a Memphis Police officer…” https://t.co/0PUKFqGbIS

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) July 31, 2023

“We have recently learned that the shooter at the Margolin Hebrew Academy was himself Jewish and a former student at the school. I am pleased the academy had effective security and that the police acted quickly to protect students,” a news release from Cohen’s office reads.

For more information, CNN has gotten in touch with Cohen’s office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and both. The source of the information was not made clear by the congressman.

The suspect is Jewish, according to a representative for the Secure Community Network, a group that has collaborated with the school through the Memphis Jewish Federation.

The incident at the academy “was personal in nature,” the representative told CNN over the phone. Crowe has stated that investigators are looking into possible motives for the incident, including if it would be a hate crime.

The inquiry is being led by the Tennessee Bureau of Inquiry with help from the FBI. The Bartlett Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office both contributed to the capture of the culprit.

According to a news release from Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn “CJ” Davis, “I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation today.”

McCrory Avenue and Gary Street pic.twitter.com/mQrCRKn7j0

— Memphis Police Dept (@MEM_PoliceDept) July 31, 2023

“Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information to stop the suspect’s actions,” the chief added.

According to the school’s website, pre-K through 12th-grade students are served by the Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South. Both day students and boarding school students who reside in dorms are taught at the institution.

We’ll update you if this news changes. Visit our website Focushillsboro for the latest news on this issue.

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