A man was shot by Memphis police Monday afternoon and taken into custody after allegedly trying to force his way into a Jewish school with a gun. He is reportedly in critical condition.
Police sources told Fox 13 Joel Bowman fired shots outside the Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva.
According to Rep. Steve Cohen (D-9th District), the accused gunman who tried his force his way into the school is Jewish and a former student of the school, Action News 5 reports.
The school said the man was unable to get in, ran into a contract worker outside of the school, fired two shots while running away from that worker and then fired two more shots as he drove off.
Memphis Police (MPD) said officers pulled the man over soon after he left the school around 12:20 p.m.
According to MPD, the man got out of a maroon pickup truck with a gun and an officer shot him.
“I personally truly believe that we have avoided a tragedy,” Memphis PD Assistant Chief Don Crowe said. “I think this suspect was going to harm somebody before the day was over and that our officers were able to intervene and protect the citizens.”
