Armed man who tried to enter a Jewish faculty in Tennessee fired at a development employee, police say

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee man who tried to enter a Jewish faculty with a gun fired photographs at a development employee there and later pointed his weapon at police earlier than an officer wounded him on a residential avenue, authorities mentioned Friday.

Joel Bowman, 33, went to Margolin Hebrew Academy-Feinstone Yeshiva of the South faculty in Memphis on Monday and tried to get inside, however he was denied entry, police mentioned on the day of the capturing. Class was not in session, however there have been restricted employees and development employees there on the time.

In an affidavit made public Friday, police mentioned Bowman — who had attended the varsity — walked round its exterior and fired two photographs at a development employee, who was not hit. Bowman then fired two extra photographs outdoors the varsity earlier than driving away in a pickup truck, police mentioned.

Officers tracked down Bowman a brief drive from the varsity. He exited his truck with a gun in his proper hand and pointed the weapon at an officer, who shot him, police mentioned. Bowman was hospitalized in essential situation.

Bowman was charged Wednesday with tried second-degree homicide, carrying a weapon on faculty property and different alleged offenses. On-line courtroom information didn’t present if he had a lawyer.

A potential motive for the try and enter the varsity has not been disclosed. Safety officers for the Jewish neighborhood declined to debate what security measures have been in use on the faculty, however they’ve mentioned locations of studying, synagogues and neighborhood facilities in Memphis and across the nation have strengthened safety in recent times in gentle of a spate of shootings at locations the place Jewish individuals collect in public.

Bowman’s confrontation with police got here 20 years after his father was fatally shot by officers whereas holding a gun throughout a psychological well being episode on the household residence.

Bowman’s heart specialist father, Dr. Anthony Bowman, died in Might 2003. A lawsuit filed by Susan Bowman mentioned she informed police her husband was performing “performing erratically and gave the impression to be emotionally distraught” and was taking medicine for bipolar dysfunction.

Anthony Bowman positioned a handgun to his head and left the home, however didn’t threaten any hurt to anybody however himself, the lawsuit mentioned. Law enforcement officials confronted and shot him a number of instances, killing him.

In its response to the lawsuit, the town of Memphis mentioned Anthony Bowman posed a menace to others and the actions of police have been justified. Susan Bowman had sought damages from the town on a declare of malicious harassment, however the lawsuit was dismissed.

Within the days earlier than he was shot, Joel Bowman posted a photograph on Fb of his father’s tombstone and referenced the loss of life on the social media web site.

“Each evening for the final 20 years I’ve gone to sleep & been confronted with “The Reminiscence” of my Fathers loss of life … Full colour, full sounds & minute particulars, the Odor of Gunpowder burning my nostrils hits even now once I’m occupied with it,” Bowman wrote.

Different current Fb posts included optimistic references to basketball, songs, former coaches and his pals. He wrote that his father performed musical devices and that he had bonded together with his dad over Pokemon.

In addition they included a submit that Joel Bowman “gots time on my fingers, residence courtroom go to.”

Different messages appeared to debate his way of thinking.

“Let me clarify how my “Thoughts” works a lil’ bit,” one submit mentioned. “It’s by no means “Quiet” up in there, it (asterisk)Might(asterisk) have pushed me Insane. It (asterisk)Might(asterisk) have Killed me, I do know from private expertise.”

Bowman’s shut pal, Charles LaVene, mentioned he attended the Jewish faculty with Bowman. LaVene has turn into a kind of spokesperson for Bowman and his mom, Susan, who lives together with her son on a farm in Stanton, east of Memphis.

LaVene mentioned Bowman performed basketball on the faculty and he was a popular “good man.”

“We have been youngsters, we performed basketball, we did video video games,” LaVene mentioned in a phone interview. “With me, I used to be his pal, he was very loud. With different individuals, he was quiet, he was reserved. A form particular person.”

Nonetheless, Bowman’s father’s loss of life traumatized his pal, LaVene mentioned.

“Joel watched it, he noticed it,” LaVene mentioned, including that Bowman’s capturing was “eerily much like his father’s.”

LaVene, 32, mentioned he doesn’t know why Bowman went to the varsity. LaVene mentioned his pal didn’t have onerous emotions towards the varsity and he thinks that “if something, he was making an attempt to go residence, to be there on the courts.”

“We’re hyper-vigilant lately with regards to faculty shootings, and quite a lot of instances you’ll see manifestations of hate and bullying,” LaVene mentioned. “That’s not the case.”