Police in Memphis shot a man who opened fire outside of a Jewish school Monday, after the suspect failed to get inside a building, preventing what officers called “a potential mass shooting situation.”

“At approximately 12:20 p.m., officers received a call that a male White, who was armed with a handgun, was at Margolin Hebrew Academy,” the Memphis Police Department said in a statement. “Reportedly, the male fired his weapon while outside of the school.”

“I personally truly believe we prevented a tragedy,” Memphis Police Assistant Chief Don Crowe said.