Parishioner, staff thwart Michigan church shooter

Several employees and a member of a Wayne, Mich. church on Sunday prevented a mass shooting, Wayne police chief Ryan Strong said. When a man began firing at the CrossPointe Community Church on Sunday morning, staff and the parishioner acted quickly, killing the suspect before he was able to murder anyone. Their actions saved dozens of lives, Strong said at a press conference recorded by local media.

How did events unfold? The suspect’s reckless driving at the church around 11 a.m. drew the attention of CrossPointe staff members, according to Strong. The shooter got out of his vehicle, wearing a tactical vest and armed with a long gun and handgun. He began firing outside the church building. A parishioner rammed the shooter with his vehicle while the suspect repeatedly shot at the vehicle. At least two church staff members then fatally shot the suspect. One staff member was wounded in the leg during the incident, Strong said.

A video of the church service, posted by local news, showed church members ducking down between seats, and then rushing to the back of the room. Shots could be heard in the background. Elderly people followed more slowly.

What do we know about the suspect? Authorities identified him as 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning from nearby Romulus, Mich., The Detroit News reported. Browning’s mother is a member of the church, and he reportedly attended services there several times during the last year, according to the outlet. The suspect’s motivation was unclear, but he appeared to have suffered a mental health crisis, Strong said.

What has the church said? In a media statement Monday, CrossPointe Community Church said it planned to continue “to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and clarity so that people, including the Brian Browning’s of the world, can learn that we can all be forgiven if we repent from our sins and place our faith in Jesus Christ.”