A potential mass shooting at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, was thwarted Sunday when a church deacon and two staff members confronted an armed assailant.
The incident, which unfolded during a vacation Bible school service with about 150 congregants, including children, left Browning dead and one staff member wounded but stable.
Police said Browning, a white male with no criminal history, arrived at the church at 36125 Glenwood Road shortly after 11 a.m. in a Nissan truck, wearing camouflage clothing and a tactical vest. He was armed with semi-automatic rifle, a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine, over a dozen fully loaded magazines, and hundreds of rounds of legally acquired ammunition.
After driving erratically in the parking lot, Browning exited his vehicle, headed toward the church entrance, and opened fire, prompting multiple 911 calls.
Deacon, Security Team Respond Swiftly
A church deacon, witnessing the threat, drove his Ford F-150 pickup truck into Browning, striking him as the gunman fired multiple rounds. This allowed two staff members, part of the church’s trained security team, to engage Browning with gunfire outside the main entrance, which they had locked to prevent his entry.
“At least two staff members shot the gunman, causing fatal wounds,” Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong said, according to ZeroHedge.
One security team member was shot in the leg but is expected to fully recover after surgery. Several of Browning’s rounds entered the church, but no other injuries were reported.
Live-streamed video of the service, later removed, captured the congregation’s reaction, shifting from confusion to fear as a leader directed everyone to the back of the building. Churchgoer Doug Blair told Fox 2 Detroit he initially mistook gunfire for construction noise.
After hearing an “active shooter” announcement, he saw the downed gunman still firing: “One of our security people was in front of him, and one was on the other side of him. They were just both emptying their clips.”
Police Credit Security Training with Saving Lives
Chief Strong praised the response, stating, per ZeroHedge, “We are grateful for the quick actions of the church’s staff members, who undoubtedly saved many lives and prevented a large-scale mass shooting.”
He noted the church’s training for emergencies was critical in saving lives.
Wayne Deputy Chief Finley Carter told the Detroit Free Press that the incident reinforces the importance of preparation.
““In today’s society, any training that can preserve life is beneficial,” he said, urging other faith communities to remain vigilant.
No Clear Motive, But Mental Health Suspected
Authorities said Browning lived with his mother — a member of the church — and had attended two or three services in the past year. However, he had no known connection to the congregation beyond that.
“It appears he was suffering from a mental health crisis,” Strong said, based on initial interviews, ZeroHedge reported.
A search of Browning’s home uncovered additional rifles, handguns, and ammunition, but police offered no theories on why he was heavily armed.
Community Response
Don Schlamb, a congregant who helped escort children to safety, credited the church’s emergency planning:
“The program we put in place worked perfectly to protect all those attending the church,” he told the Free Press. “Praise the Lord, we all got out safely. There’s a lot of hurting people out there right now. We must pray for everyone.”
Police clarified the church’s security team consisted of trained volunteer staff, not private security guards.
The Family Research Council reported that more than 430 attacks against U.S. houses of worship occurred in 2023 alone, underscoring a growing trend of violence targeting faith communities.