The alleged shooter at Margolin Hebrew Academy on Monday, July 31, is reportedly a former student at the Academy and is Jewish, per an updated statement from Congressman Steve Cohen.

The shooting led to a precautionary lockdown for Memphis-Shelby County Schools, even though Margolin is not part of MSCS.

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

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No injuries were reported as a result of the shooting at the East Memphis school.

An earlier statement from Cohen, who is Jewish, had decried the shooting as an act of antisemitism.

State senate minority leader Raumesh Akbari noted how the shooting was the second one on a school campus in the city in a less than week. 

On July 25, a security guard at Freedom Prep Academy Westwood Elementary was shot in the face while standing outside of the school. He was transported to Regional One in critical condition. School was not in session at the time, according to the school’s charter operator.

Akbari used the two shootings to call for gun-law reform at an upcoming special legislative session next month. 

“We are not helpless against this epidemic of gun violence. We can enact reforms that stop future gun violence. Now, it’s more urgent than ever that lawmakers come together during our special session to give police the tools they need prevent shootings from happening in the first place,” she said. 

The Memphis Police Department released a statement via X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that at 12:20 p.m. officers received a call of an armed white male at Margolin, who had reportedly discharged his weapon outside of the school.

MPD located the suspect's vehicle approximately three miles away in the area of McCrory Avenue and Gary Street and conducted a traffic stop. 

According to the police department’s account, the suspect exited the vehicle with his handgun and was struck by an MPD officer’s gunfire. The suspect is in critical condition and has been transported to Regional One.

MPD blocked a section of McCrory and Gary where officers allegedly located the shooter.

What appeared to be a red Dodge Ram pickup was parked outside a house with both the driver and passenger side doors open.

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Several MPD squad cars were on scene, some marked, some unmarked.

Tennessee Bureau of Investigation officials announced they were requested by Shelby County District Attorney General Steve Mulroy to investigate the shooting of the unnamed suspect.

Four marked Memphis Police Department cars were seen at the school on White Station Road, which is not associated with MSCS.

A text sent to employees of MSCS said that officials were looking for a white male in his 40s in a red Dodge truck that was considered armed and dangerous and was trying to enter non-MSCS schools.

MSCS’ first message said: “All MSCS buildings are currently on a precautionary lockdown while law enforcement investigates a situation unfolding across Shelby County.”

It followed shortly after with: “The lockdown at MSCS buildings has been lifted. The suspect has been found.”