A Jewish day school in Memphis, Tenn., went into lockdown for about 45 minutes on Monday afternoon after a man fired several shots nearby.
No injuries were reported at the Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South.
According to Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn (“C.J.”) Davis, “at approximately 12:20 p.m., officers received a call that a male, white, who was armed with a handgun, was at Margolin Hebrew Academy … reportedly, the male fired his weapon while outside the school. No injuries were reported. The suspect responsible fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival.”
He was driving a maroon Ram pickup truck with California tags, said Davis, adding that an alert was sent to police officers across the county.
“Officers conducted a traffic stop, at which time the driver exited his vehicle armed with a handgun. An MPD [Memphis Police Department] officer fired his duty weapon, striking the suspect,” said the chief, adding that the man has been transported to a local hospital in “critical condition.”
The chief continued: “Due to the suspect’s condition and in accordance with policy, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has been contacted and will be conducting this investigation.”
The Orthodox school, which enrolls students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12, sent out a message in the early afternoon advising the community that it was “in a developing active shooter situation,” according to Fox 13 News.
“We can confirm that no one has been hurt in any way, and everyone is now safe, thank G-d,” it added. “Our campus is completely closed. Thank you for your understanding.”
Reports on social media state that the suspect, who has yet to be identified publicly, fired between two and four gunshots.
Michael Masters, national director and CEO of Secure Community Network, posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the network “and partners tracked and identified the individual who fired shots at Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis.”
Davis said “I am proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass-shooting situation today. Many thanks to our neighboring jurisdictions for also providing critical information to stop the suspect’s actions.”