An armed man wearing a tactical vest opened fire outside CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, on Sunday, June 22. Church staff members fatally shot him, police said.
The shooting occurred around 11 a.m., while approximately 150 people, including children attending Vacation Bible School, were inside the church.
Who was the gunman?
Police identified the gunman as 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning from Romulus, Michigan. They said he drove recklessly near the church before exiting his vehicle wearing tactical gear and carrying an AR-15-style rifle with more than a dozen fully loaded magazines, a semi-automatic handgun equipped with an extended magazine and hundreds of additional rounds of ammunition.
As he approached the building, he began firing, striking one church employee in the leg. That staff member, who also serves as a church security guard, was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
How did church staff respond to the shooting?
According to Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong, church staff and parishioners quickly intervened. A parishioner struck the gunman with a pickup truck as he fired at the vehicle. Two staff members then shot the gunman, fatally wounding Browning before he could enter the church.
Strong credited the church’s emergency training for the swift response, saying the actions likely prevented a large-scale shooting. The entire exchange of gunfire occurred outside the church.
Did the gunman have a connection to the church?
Browning had limited prior contact with CrossPointe Community Church. His mother is a church member, and police say he had attended services two or three times in the past year. Investigators believe he may have been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the attack. Strong stated that the suspect had only minor prior interactions with law enforcement and no significant criminal history.
As of Monday, authorities have not identified the gunman’s motive. Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter said they need more time to determine why he targeted the church.
How did the church and community respond?
Church members were quickly evacuated and taken by bus to a nearby community center. Footage from the church’s livestream captured the moment panic set in with parishioners clapping one moment, then scrambling for cover the next.
Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr. described church members as exhausted but grateful that the situation was not worse.
What role is the FBI playing?
The FBI responded to the scene and is assisting local police with the ongoing investigation. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said federal teams are assisting with evidence collection and analysis.
The investigation remains active as authorities work to learn more about the shooter’s background and potential motives.
contributed to this report.