At least one armed member of a church security team fatally shot a man outside the CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Mich., Sunday morning, and police are still trying to establish a motive for what was a bizarre incident.
According to the Detroit News, members of the church started a security team “roughly a decade ago in response to violence committed at other places of worship around the United States.” The incident is somewhat reminiscent of the 2019 shooting at the West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Tex.
In the Texas case, a lone gunman entered the church sanctuary during services, which were being live streamed at the time. He opened fire, killing two parishioners before being fatally shot by 71-year-old Jack Wilson, a volunteer member of the security team.
In Sunday’s Michigan shooting, according to NBC News and other news agencies, a man identified as 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning, from Romulus, Mich. He was reportedly armed with an AR-15 rifle and semi-auto pistol, and was carrying more than a dozen spare magazines.
Fox News is reporting that Browning opened fire outside of the church and a member of the congregation observed this and ran into the suspect with his truck. This apparently gave the armed security team a chance to return fire, killing the suspect.
Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong held a press briefing during which he speculated Browning was suffering from “a mental health crisis.” Strong also said the suspect fired at the truck before it hit him.
Initial reports said at least two members of the church security team shot the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chief Strong said it appeared the suspect was trying to commit a mass shooting at the church, Fox News said. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted a message on “X” that the federal agency was monitoring the attack. Bongino said a support team was “on the ground.”
ABC News reported that Browning’s mother is a member of the church. ABC also reported that one staff member was shot in the leg, but it did not appear to be a life-threatening wound.
Shortly after the shooting was reported, Polk County, Fla., Sheriff Grady Judd posted a message on “X” warning houses of worship “to be alert for suspicious activity, and prepare for potential threats by anyone who wants to harm worshippers.”
https://x.com/PolkCoSheriff/status/1936899792728400086
“This morning’s active shooter at a church in Wayne, Michigan reminds us that all of our houses of worship must have a safety and security plan to immediately respond to an active shooter,” Judd stated.
According to Fox, Judd also cautioned, “An active shooter can happen anywhere, and churches, synagogues, and mosques need to take steps to prepare for such a scenario.”
