US: Gunman Killed After Church Shooting In Michigan; 1 Injured
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WAYNE, USA (Worthy News) – A mentally troubled white man opened fire outside a church filled with worshippers in the U.S. state of Michigan before being struck by a vehicle and then fatally shot by security staff, local police said Sunday.
The shooting happened around 11 a.m. local time during a morning service at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, a town of 17,000 people some 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Detroit, Michigan’s most populous city.
Witnesses spotted the gunman driving recklessly and then saw him exit his car wearing a tactical vest and carrying a rifle and a handgun, police Chief Ryan Strong told reporters late Sunday.
The man began firing as he approached the church, striking one person in the leg, who was later rushed to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, officials said. Nobody else was reportedly hurt.
“A parishioner struck the gunman with his vehicle as the gunman shot the vehicle repeatedly,” Strong told reporters. “At least two staff members shot the gunman, causing the fatal wounds.”
Police described the suspect as a 31-year-old white male with no known connection to the church. His motive remains unclear, but it appears he was suffering from a mental health crisis, Strong said. Several media outlets later identified the man as Brian Browning, 31, from Romulus, Michigan.
Strong said a church member ran the suspect over with his vehicle, giving security staff time to shoot him.
HEROIC ACTIONS
“We are grateful for the heroic actions of the church’s staff members, who undoubtedly saved many lives and prevented a large-scale mass shooting,” the chief said.
About 150 people were reportedly inside the church at the time. Video showed horrified churchgoers, including many children, running for cover once they realized what was happening.
The church’s website says it hosts a Sunday worship service at 10:45 a.m.
Worshipper Wendy Bodin recalled that she heard a loud “boom,” and when she looked outside, she saw a man sprawled out on the grass in front of the church. “I thought he got hit or crashed his car or was hurt,” Bodin told local network WXYZ-TV. “And another lady saw and pointed to me and said, ‘Oh my, call 911!'”
Chief Ryan Strong said 911 emergency number calls about the shooting at CrossPointe Community Church on the 36000 block of Glenwood Road started coming in around 11:06 a.m.
Heavily armed police could soon be seen around a vehicle that had apparently rammed into the church building.
“Upon arrival, officers determined that a security guard for the church shot and killed the suspect. One victim was shot in the leg. Please avoid the area. Officers are still actively investigating,” police said at the time.
FBI INVESTIGATION
Dan Bongino, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) deputy director, posted on social media that leadership and support teams are at the scene “providing assistance and investigative support.”
Although none of the worshipers were killed, Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr. said the “people were very distraught and really broken up about this.”
He told the media they “still took it very well because they recognized what could’ve happened that did not happen.”
Parishioner Dustin Fuoco, who lives on the church property and runs the facility’s sound system, said he initially couldn’t find his wife and newborn baby after the gunshots rang out.
“I was up in the upper level, so just me and a couple of our tech crew up there, and we heard a round of shots, sounded like probably 10, and it sounded like a jackhammer,” Fuoco told broadcaster CBS News.
He said the crew heard another round of 10 shots about 20 seconds later.
“At that point, we all realized it was a shooter,” Fuoco said. “So the first thing I did at that point was, being up there by myself, I ran right downstairs because in the room right next to the first level is the baby room. So that’s where my wife and newborn were. And [I was] very terrified because that room was emptied out. So, at that point, everybody’s scattering.”
WOODED AREA
Fuoco said he ran outside to a wooded area where other parishioners were, and found his wife and newborn around 15 long minutes later.
The shooting has underscored a broader discussion with U.S. churches about security following several shootings.
A decade ago, CrossPointe Community Church initiated a security team following violence at churches across America, even though this specific church has not received any violent threats, the pastor explained.
“We are sitting ducks to someone who wants to come and do harm,” Kelly said. “We will be convening our leadership to put a formal plan in place for the aftermath.”
Journalist Nick Sortor noted on social media that the incident underscored that “Christianity is UNDER ATTACK. Anyone saying otherwise is lying.”
Latest Worthy News
If you are interested in articles produced by Worthy News, please check out our FREE sydication service available to churches or online Christian ministries. To find out more, visit Worthy Plugins.