Photos shows armed man trying to get into Memphis school

A dramatic photo shows a gun-toting man trying to get into a Jewish school moments before he was shot by Memphis police — as the suspect was identified as an ex-student whose dad was shot dead by cops 20 years ago.

Surveillance footage shows the suspect, identified by police as Joel Alejandro Bowman, 33, holding a handgun in his right hand as he allegedly tried to sneak into Margolin Hebrew Academy-​Feinstone Yeshiva of the South on Monday in a blue T-shirt and shorts.

The alarming image was shared with educators warning them to be on the lookout for the suspect who fired shots outside after failing to gain access, police have said.

The gunman fled in a pickup truck — but was stopped less than four miles away and shot by a police officer, leaving him in critical condition.

Bowman had exited the truck with a firearm in hand, and the “situation escalated,” the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) said Wednesday.

Bowman was charged with attempted second-degree murder, carrying weapons on school property, reckless endangerment, possessing a firearm during the commission or attempt to commit a dangerous felony, and assault against a first responder, the TBI said.

Students were not at the school at the time and no one was hurt, officials said, noting that only limited staff and construction workers were there at the time.

Still, police feared he planned a mass shooting.

“I personally truly believe we have avoided a tragedy. I think the suspect was going to harm somebody before the day was over,” Assistant Police Chief Don Crowe told WREG.

Memphis Rep. Steve Cohen described Bowman as Jewish and a former Margolin student, WREG reported.

It also emerged that the suspect’s father, Dr. Anthony Bowman, was killed in a 2003 encounter with Memphis cops after his wife reported that he was armed and acting erratically, the same outlet revealed.

“Someone felt unsafe and called the police, and as he was going to put down the gun, he had turned around and I think it was like nine or 10 police officers all opened fire at the same time and completely mutilated him,” family friend Brittney Eshelman-Worch told WREG.

The dad had suffered from mental illness — and his death traumatized his son, who had similar mental-health issues, said Eshelman-Worch, who also attended the school.

“I can’t justify him walking into a school with a gun–  there is no rhyme or reason for it. However, I don’t believe he was going to hurt anyone,” she told WREG.

“Genuinely to the core, I don’t think he would ever intentionally hurt someone,” she said of Joel. “He has struggled with mental health for a number of years,”

The TBI has not disclosed a motive in Monday’s incident.

In a letter to parents, the academy said the suspect had a “brief confrontation” with a contract worker and fired two shots “while retreating from this worker,” CNN reported.

“We are shocked and saddened by the events that took place at MHA-FYOS yesterday, and incredibly grateful to God that thanks to our school’s extensive security measure and the swift response by the Memphis Police Department, every is safe,” the academy said in a statement.

“Thank you to the entire Memphis community and our friends around the world for your love and support. We stand united in our commitment to keeping all students and school staff members safe,” it added.

A message left at one phone listing for Bowman wasn’t immediately returned, and a second phone listing rang unanswered. It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney representing him.

With Post wires