UPDATE: Shooting at Margolin Hebrew Academy
MEMPHIS, TN — Earlier this afternoon, an individual attempting to enter the Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis, Tennessee fired several shots at the facility from a handgun. The suspect fled the scene; initial reports quickly confirmed that no person was injured in the incident.
Shortly after the incident, the Memphis Community Security Director was in direct contact with law enforcement and coordinating response efforts; this included reporting the incident to the Secure Community Network’s (SCN) 24/7 National Jewish Security Operations Command Center.
The Memphis Jewish Federation and Secure Community Network were able to acquire clear CCTV images of the person of interest, track license plates to identify him, and surface additional information about the subject, sharing intelligence with local law enforcement immediately. Law enforcement located the suspect and conducted a vehicle stop, upon which the person of interest engaged officers with additional shots fired; the subject was apprehended and the threat mitigated; the offender is reported to be in critical condition.
Since 2018, The Memphis Jewish Federation and SCN have worked in partnership to deploy a comprehensive, best practice security initiative across the Memphis community. This effort is headed by a retired local law enforcement official.
“We will not choose the time and place of the next incident, but we can choose our preparation, and have strong response protocols in place. Today’s events in Memphis are a clear indicator of why this is important and how it can save lives,” said Secure Community Network’s National Director & CEO Michael Masters. “The coordinated response from the institution, community, and law enforcement was neither an accident nor luck: it is a validation of the coordinated model SCN and Federations around the country have been implementing - from information sharing to training - and the outstanding leaders and partners who execute it. SCN will continue to work with great partners like The Memphis Jewish Federation and the Memphis Police Department to ensure we build the shield of safety and security that the Jewish community deserves and depends on.”