Joel Alejandro Bowman, the man who tried to enter the Memphis Margolin Hebrew Academy with a gun Monday, has been charged with five counts including criminal attempted second-degree murder. Photo courtesy of Margolin Hebrew Academy Feinstone Yeshiva of the South
Aug. 3 (UPI) -- The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation charged a man with five counts including attempted second-degree murder for allegedly firing a gun outside of a Hebrew School in Memphis on Monday.
The agency said that in addition to the criminal attempted second-degree murder charge it charged Joel Alejandro Bowman with one count each of carrying weapons on a school property, reckless endangerment, possessing a firearm during the commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony and assault against a first responder.
Bowman remained hospitalized at the time the charges were announced Wednesday after he was shot by officers during a traffic stop three miles away as he exited the vehicle holding a handgun while attempting to flee the scene.
Authorities said Bowman tried to enter the Margolin Hebrew Academy Monday while carrying a handgun. He fired shots in the immediate area before driving away.
Memphis Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe said Monday he believed a tragedy was prevented when Bowman was unable to enter the school.
According to U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., Bowman is Jewish and a former student at the school.
In July a federal jury ruled that the man convicted of killing 11 Jewish worshippers at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue is eligible for the death penalty.
A jury Wednesday recommended that Robert Bowers get the death penalty for the mass murders.
In June a Michigan man was arrested for transmitting a communication threatening to injure another.
Law enforcement told a court they found a Nazi flag, guns and ammo in Seann Patrick Pietila's home along with a message on his phone threatening the Shaarey Zedek Congregation.
U.S. anti-semitic attacks have spiked in recent years with thousands of incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism each year.
In May the Biden administration released the first national strategy to counter anti-semitism, noting that according to the FBI American Jews are the victims of 63% or reported religiously motivated hate crimes while representing just 2.4% of the population.
