A potential tragedy at a Memphis, Tennessee, Orthodox Jewish school was averted on Monday, July 31, following the swift response of local law enforcement and the school’s own security measures.
A man who is now in custody attempted to enter the Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South (MHA-FYOS), a K–12 day school, while armed with a firearm, Memphis Police Assistant Chief Don Crowe said in a press conference.
The attempted shooting occurred just over four months after a former student of The Covenant School, a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, killed three children and three adults.
The Memphis assailant is also allegedly a former student, according to Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), drawing contrast to the March 27 Nashville tragedy. Authorities reported no injuries to students, staff, or faculty at the Jewish school.
Suspect Tried to Gain Entry
Just after noon on July 31, a man reportedly fired shots outside the school after attempting to gain entry, but authorities have not yet identified the accused gunman.“On the scene, they learned that a suspect did try to enter the building armed with a gun. When he could not gain entry he fired shots outside the school,” Mr. Crowe said. “Thankfully that school had a great safety procedure and process in place and avoided anyone being harmed or injured at that scene.”
An hour later after a county-wide alert went out to be on the lookout for the vehicle, officers conducted a traffic stop, at which time they say the driver exited the vehicle armed with a handgun.
“They followed that suspect vehicle until they could get enough officers here to conduct a safe traffic stop,” Mr. Crowe explained. “The officers pulled the vehicle over. He immediately emerged out of the vehicle with a gun in his hand and that resulted in an officer discharging his duty weapon. That suspect was struck and transported to Regional One Hospital in critical condition”
Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn ‘CJ’ Davis said in a statement that due to the nature of an officer-involved shooting, the district attorney contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to conduct the investigation.
School Notes Security Measures Worked
While police said they were unable to release information on a connection the suspect may have had to the school or whether the shooting was considered a hate crime against the Jewish community, Mr. Cohen said he had learned the shooter was Jewish and a former student of the school.“We have recently learned that the shooter at the Margolin Hebrew Academy was himself Jewish and a former student at the school,” he said. “I am pleased the academy had effective security and that the police acted quickly to protect students.”
In a social media post, school officials expressed gratitude to staff for their extensive security measures and the prompt response by the Memphis Police Department.
“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’s statement read. “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.”
Mass Shooting Mitigated
Ms. Davis praised the quick work of the officers to ensure no harm came to anyone at the hands of the assailant.“I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation today,” she said. “Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information to stop the suspect’s actions.”
The TBI does not identify officers involved in these incidents but refers inquiries to the respective department. TBI noted in a press release that its role is solely as a fact-finder and it does not determine whether the actions of an officer were justified, something the district attorney will decide.
“TBI agents continue to work to independently determine the series of events leading to the officer-involved shooting, including collecting evidence and conducting interviews,” the agency said in a press release. “Throughout the process, investigative findings will be shared with the District Attorney General for his review and consideration.”
