Security guard kills gunman who opened fire during church service in Michigan

A church deacon ran the suspect, a 31-year-old white male, over with his truck, giving a security guard time to shoot him. — Image credit: Getty Images

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Summary

Michigan church shooting

A gunman opened fire during a Sunday service at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, just outside Detroit.

Suspect ran over

A security guard shot and killed the suspect after a church member used his truck to knock the shooter down. The security guard was shot in the leg.

FBI assisting investigation

Authorities, including the FBI, are investigating the motive behind the attack.

Full story

A security guard shot and killed a man suspected of opening fire during church services in Wayne, Michigan, Sunday, June 22. The Associated Press reports the shooting happened at CrossPointe Community Church just outside of Detroit.

The church’s pastor said a church deacon ran the suspect over with his truck, giving the security guard time to shoot him. Police described the suspect as a 31-year-old white male. The pastor tells the Detroit News the security guard was shot in the leg.

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Point phone camera here

Video from inside the church shows the moment the crowd begins to react to the reports of a suspected active shooter. The church had just wrapped up an event that was being livestreamed to its YouTube page. The video shows the crowd clapping, some people begin to stand, and then shouting can be heard offscreen.

Meanwhile, people in the church took cover behind chairs and began to run from the room. Someone told them to go to the back as people began fleeing from the room.

“Everybody to the back, please, everybody come to the back. Come to the back,” a person yells.

A loud bang is heard, followed by more screaming. The sound begins to cut out as everybody exits the room where the event was being held.

Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter III said it was too early to know why the suspect attacked the church.

Federal investigation

FBI Director Dan Bongino posted on social media Sunday afternoon, “Our leadership and support teams are on the ground, at the scene, in Wayne, Michigan providing assistance and investigative support.”

Tags: Church, FBI, Michigan

Why this story matters

A shooting at a Michigan church during a service underscores ongoing concerns about public safety and the preparedness of communities to respond to active shooter situations.

Church shooting

An armed individual opened fire at a Sunday service inside CrossPointe Community Church, leading to a fatal confrontation and raising questions about violence in places of worship.

Community response

The rapid actions of a church deacon and a security guard, as reported by the Associated Press, potentially prevented further harm and highlight the importance of emergency preparedness.

Law enforcement investigation

Authorities, including local police and the FBI, are investigating the incident, bringing attention to the need for thorough assessments of motives and security practices.

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Context corner

Recent years have seen increased security at places of worship in the United States due to a rise in attacks. The deployment of security guards at Crosspointe Community Church reflects a nationwide trend of faith communities taking additional measures for congregational protection after violent incidents elsewhere.

Debunking

There are conflicting details about whether the shooter drove into the church or was run over by a church member. Most sources align with the report that a church member ran over the shooter outside before the security guard engaged. There is no verified information supporting claims that the shooter drove his truck into the church building itself.

Oppo research

Opponents of increased armed security in religious spaces often argue such measures can escalate violence or foster a climate of fear. Some community voices call for broader gun control or preventative action rather than reactive security responses. These positions, however, are less represented in the coverage of this specific incident.