UPDATE: The suspect is identified as a Jewish man who is a former student at the school.
DEVELOPING STORY: Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis says the quick-thinking of police officers averted a mass shooting today.A gunman opened fire outside the Margolin Hebrew Academy on South White Station around 12:20 p.m. today. The suspect was stopped by double security doors. No one was injured.
The suspect fled the scene in a Ram truck with California tags. He was later stopped in the area of McCrory and Gary.
As a matter of extreme caution, all Memphis-Shelby County schools were placed on lockdown.
Officers conducted the traffic stop and the man jumped out of the truck armed with a handgun. An officer opened fire striking the suspect. He is now in critical condition at Regional One.“I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation today,” Davis said in a statement. “Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information to stop the suspect’s actions.”
The suspect has yet to be identified and police have yet to release a motive.
COHEN CONDEMNS ANTI-SEMITISM
Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) immediately condemned the shooting and suggested it was an act of anti-semitism.“I am shocked to know of this senseless incident and relieved at reports that no one at the school was injured. Antisemitism is on the rise in this country. I am astonished and saddened that an apparent act of violent antisemitism has come to Memphis,” Cohen said. “We all need to be on our guard against antisemitism and white nationalism.”
Listen to KWAM AM 990, 107.9 FM for live coverage of the incident.
Shooting at Margolin Hebrew Academy Feinstone Yeshiva in Memphis – @JewishPress – https://t.co/CQXBOb1s4P pic.twitter.com/LYl1kR1xmX
— JewishPress.com (@JewishPress) July 31, 2023
At the request of 30th Judicial District Attorney General Steve Mulroy, TBI special agents are responding to an officer-involved shooting in the 4800 block of McCory Street in Memphis.
All updates will be posted to our newsroom blog at https://t.co/Ukur3rVkY1. pic.twitter.com/b9fxvS0dH5
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) July 31, 2023
BREAKING: huge police in Berclair right now. Choppers in air and lots of sirens. Working to learn more, but a witness on scene told me she heard 4-5 which shots fired. @WMCActionNews5 pic.twitter.com/1fLTnBcS9y
— Walter Murphy (@WMurphyNews) July 31, 2023
