Church Security Stops Gunman Outside Michigan Service, Preventing Mass Casualty Tragedy
WAYNE, Mich. (AP) — A quiet Sunday morning turned into a harrowing brush with tragedy when a gunman opened fire outside a Michigan church filled with families, only to be stopped by a combination of quick thinking and armed security.
The incident occurred around 11 a.m. at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, a city of 17,000 about 25 miles west of Detroit. Around 150 worshippers were inside attending the church’s weekly Sunday service when they noticed a man driving erratically outside.
Moments later, the man—described by police as a 31-year-old white male wearing a tactical vest—stepped out of his vehicle armed with a rifle and a handgun and opened fire. One person was shot in the leg. But before the gunman could get any closer to the building, a churchgoer in a pickup truck ran him over, and security staff immediately returned fire, killing the shooter on the spot.
“A parishioner struck the gunman with his vehicle as the gunman shot the vehicle repeatedly,” said Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong. “At least two staff members shot the gunman, causing the fatal wounds.”
No one else inside the church was harmed, and the individual wounded in the leg is expected to make a full recovery.
A Community Church, a Fast Response
CrossPointe Community Church is an evangelical congregation that holds weekly services, youth programs, and family outreach. Like many houses of worship across the U.S., it had taken steps in recent years to bolster security—an unfortunate reflection of a country where church shootings, though still rare, have become part of the national anxiety.
Chief Strong credited the church’s preparedness for saving lives.
“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,” he said.
The name of the man who drove his truck into the shooter has not been released, but his actions—and those of the security staff—are being hailed as heroic.
Suspect’s Motive Unclear, Mental Health Crisis Suspected
Police said the suspect had no known ties to the church, and there is no indication so far that he knew anyone inside. The motive remains a mystery, but Chief Strong suggested that the shooter may have been in the midst of a mental health crisis.
“This appears to be an isolated act of violence,” Strong said. “There’s no evidence at this time of a broader threat.”
Authorities have not said whether the man had a history of mental illness or prior arrests. His name has not yet been released.
Worshipper Recounts the Chaos
Inside the sanctuary, the mood went from serene to frantic in an instant. Wendy Bodin, who was attending the service, recalled hearing a loud “boom” from outside. She initially thought it might have been a car accident—until another churchgoer yelled for someone to call 911.
“I looked outside and saw a man lying on the grass,” Bodin told WXYZ-TV. “Another lady pointed and said, ‘Oh my, call 911!’”
The church immediately went into lockdown as staff secured the building and worshippers waited anxiously for word that the threat had passed.
Federal Authorities Join Investigation
By Sunday afternoon, the FBI had joined the investigation, offering federal support as local law enforcement tried to determine what prompted the shooting. Deputy Chief Finley Carter III said it was still too early to identify a motive, and the FBI’s leadership team was assisting on-site.
The Associated Press attempted to contact church officials for comment, but calls and messages were not returned by Sunday evening.
A Broader Concern
This incident comes amid rising concern about the intersections of gun violence, mental health, and soft-target security in the United States. Faith communities, often seen as sanctuaries of peace, have increasingly felt compelled to hire armed security and develop emergency plans.
From the 2017 Sutherland Springs massacre in Texas to the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, religious spaces have periodically become targets—often with devastating consequences.
Though the motives behind Sunday’s shooting remain unclear, many in Wayne are left shaken but grateful that swift action prevented another tragedy.
Key Points Recap:
- Gunman in tactical gear opened fire outside CrossPointe Community Church during Sunday service.
- One person was shot; a parishioner ran the gunman over with a pickup truck, and church security fatally shot him.
- Police believe the suspect, a 31-year-old white male, was experiencing a mental health crisis.
- Around 150 worshippers were inside; no other injuries reported.
- FBI and local police are investigating; the church had trained security in place.
- Incident highlights growing need for security planning in faith-based communities.
Source: AP News – Police say a man opened fire outside a church before staff fatally shot him, averting mass shooting
