Man who shot at and attempted to enter Memphis Jewish school charged. What we know

Lucas Finton, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·3 min read
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Memphis Police Department officers stand at the entrance to Margolin Hebrew Academy after a man armed with a handgun first tried to enter the school and then began firing his gun outside the school before fleeing in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, July 31, 2023.
Memphis Police Department officers stand at the entrance to Margolin Hebrew Academy after a man armed with a handgun first tried to enter the school and then began firing his gun outside the school before fleeing in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, July 31, 2023.

The man who was shot by a Memphis Police Department officer after he tried to get into a Jewish school Monday afternoon has been charged with five separate counts, including attempted second-degree murder, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said.

Joel Alejandro Bowman, 33, was identified by TBI in a press release. He is charged with one count of carrying weapons on school property, reckless endangerment, criminal attempted second-degree murder, possessing a firearm during the commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony and assault against a first responder.

According to officials, Bowman tried to enter Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South at around 12:30 p.m. Monday. TBI said he was armed with a handgun but, was not successful in getting into the school that, an affidavit filed in Shelby County Criminal Court said, was "occupied by staff and contractors."

When Bowman could not get into the school, the affidavit said he walked around the exterior of the building and made contact with one of the contractors.

A Memphis Police Department officer walks through the scene at Margolin Hebrew Academy after a man armed with a handgun first tried to enter the school and then began firing his gun outside the school before fleeing in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, July 31, 2023.
A Memphis Police Department officer walks through the scene at Margolin Hebrew Academy after a man armed with a handgun first tried to enter the school and then began firing his gun outside the school before fleeing in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, July 31, 2023.

"After a brief interaction, Joel Bowman pointed a gun at (the contractor) and fired two shots," the affidavit said. "(The contractor) was not struck. While walking back to his truck, Joel Bowman fired another round from the parking lot."

About an hour later, TBI said an MPD officer found Bowman's truck.

"Once stopped, Bowman exited the vehicle holding a firearm, and the situation escalated, resulting in the officer firing his service weapon, striking Bowman," TBI said in the press release. "No officers were hurt in the incident."

It is unclear what caused the situation to escalate, but the affidavit for Bowman said he "turn[ed] and lift[ed] both hands, pointing the gun at Officer K. Buchan. Officer K. Buchan fire[d] his weapon, striking Joel Bowman."

Bowman was taken to Regional One Health in critical condition. As of Wednesday night, TBI said he was still hospitalized.

A Memphis Police Department vehicle along with crime scene tape are seen at the entrance to Margolin Hebrew Academy after a man armed with a handgun first tried to enter the school and then began firing his gun outside the school before fleeing in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, July 31, 2023.
A Memphis Police Department vehicle along with crime scene tape are seen at the entrance to Margolin Hebrew Academy after a man armed with a handgun first tried to enter the school and then began firing his gun outside the school before fleeing in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, July 31, 2023.

MPD Chief Cerelyn "C.J." Davis, in a statement after Bowman was taken to the hospital, said she was "proud of the vigilant and quick response of MPD officers who mitigated a potential mass shooting situation."

TBI was called to investigate by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy, which is standard practice when a police officer shoots someone and either kills or critically injures them.

Bowman was a student at Margolin Hebrew Academy ― according to a Facebook account seemingly belonging to the man ― and graduated from there in 2009. The final post to the account, posted just over a half hour before he attempted to get into the school, said, "Gots time on my hands, 'Home' Court Visit."

In another Facebook post, Bowman uploaded a picture of what appears to be his father's headstone. In the post, Bowman said, in part, "I've had some time to 'Think,' and I Believe My Father 'Helped' slap some DAMN SENSE into me."

In 2003, Bowman's father, a cardiologist, was shot and killed by MPD officers. According to a wrongful death lawsuit later filed by Bowman's mother, the mother called 911 saying the father was "acting erratically and appeared to be emotionally distraught." She also said the father had been diagnosed with a mental illness and was taking medication.

Memphis Police Assistant Chief Don Crowe said Monday afternoon that officers from the Memphis Police Department had shot a man believed to have tried to enter a Jewish school in East Memphis, and fired a gun outside the school when he could not. The man was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.
Memphis Police Assistant Chief Don Crowe said Monday afternoon that officers from the Memphis Police Department had shot a man believed to have tried to enter a Jewish school in East Memphis, and fired a gun outside the school when he could not. The man was taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.

The lawsuit, which was ultimately dismissed for failure to state a claim, said both Bowman and his mother were within a "zone of danger" when police shot. It is unclear exactly how close the two were at the time shots were fired.

According to reporting from The Commercial Appeal in 2003, police said Bowman's father was "standing inside his apartment with a gun to his head" and threatening to kill himself and others. Eventually, officers "struck him with projectiles designed to stop, not kill," though it is not clear what those were. It was not until police said Bowman's father pointed a handgun at officers that they shot him.

Reporting in that article did not make it clear how many shots were fired, but the lawsuit alleged the father was shot multiple times.

Lucas Finton is a criminal justice reporter with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Lucas.Finton@commercialappeal.com and followed on Twitter @LucasFinton.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Man who shot at Jewish school in Memphis identified, charged