A tragic incident was narrowly averted at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, yesterday when church staff members confronted and stopped an armed individual, according to multiple reports. Police said the suspect, a 31-year-old man from Romulus, Michigan, had opened fire outside the church during services, prompting a response from church workers and parishioners.
Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong detailed the events to CBS News Detroit, stating that the attacker, later identified as Brian Anthony Browning, arrived at the church grounds recklessly, armed with a tactical vest, a long gun, and a handgun. A livestream of the church service captured the panicked movements of the congregation as the shooting started. In the meantime, a security guard employed by the church, alongside another staff member, managed to neutralize the gunman. "The people who were very distraught and really broken up about this, they still took it very well because they recognized what could've happened that did not happen," CrossPointe Community Church Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr. told CBS News Detroit.
The situation escalated when a parishioner used his vehicle to strike the gunman as he fired at the vehicle, reported the Detroit Free Press. This act, along with the return fire from the security guard, resulted in the gunman being fatally shot. A church staff member was also injured during the exchange and was reported to be awaiting surgery for a leg wound, though the injuries were not considered life-threatening.
Further insight into the fear-filled moments was provided by Fox 2's interview with parishioner Doug Blair. Recounting the events, Blair described hearing the shots and witnessing two church security guards who "were just both emptying their clips" at the gunman. "I ran because it sounded like it was right outside the window where I was sitting. So I ran to the corner door. And I propped the door open just to see what was going on," Blair told FOX 2 Detroit.
Authorities served a search warrant at Browning's home, where they discovered additional firearms and ammunition, according to a police update. Police are investigating the motive behind the shooting, although initial findings suggest that Browning's mother was a member of the church and the suspect had attended services there a few times in the past. Chief Strong suggested that the shooter might have been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident. He had no known criminal history or previous contacts with the Wayne Police Department.
