A peaceful and normal church session in Michigan was interrupted by the most unlikely person– an active shooter. The whole incident was even caught in the church’s livestream, where the sudden lone gunman drove the crowd into a panic before the church’s security staff stepped in to stop what could’ve been a church mass shooting in Michigan.
The troubling event occurred in Wayne, Michigan, specifically at the Crosspointe Community Church, around 11:00 AM. The usual churchgoers were merely attending a morning service when a 31-year-old white male wearing a tactical vest and wielding a rifle exited his vehicle and proceeded inside the church while shooting at some of the parishioners outside.
Luckily, the church security guards were present during the scene, and they were able to stop and kill the active shooter.
“A parishioner struck the gunman with his vehicle as the gunman shot the vehicle repeatedly. At least two staff members shot the gunman, causing the fatal wounds.
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,” reports Police Chief Ryan Strong during a press conference, transcript courtesy of AP.
Meanwhile, the church’s livestream was able to capture the exact moment of panic as the churchgoers heard the gunshots and were told to evacuate to safety. Security could be seen rushing to the entrance:
Apparently, one of the security staff was shot in the leg, and a parishioner’s vehicle was peppered with bullets. The injured security staff member has since undergone surgery and is expected to make a full recovery.
As for the active shooter, Brian Anthony Browning, it appears he was also somewhat frustrated by the parishioners who struck him and his vehicle accidentally. Other than that, his motives remained unclear, though authorities are assuming that he was suffering from a mental health crisis.
US Gun Problems Were Highlighted Once More
The shooter, Browning, actually had no criminal history, but his mother apparently was a member of the Crosspointe Community Church. Browning even attended two or three services in the previous year.
A mass shooting in a church, thankfully, isn’t a common tragedy in the US; however, concerns over church safety have grown due to this recent incident. People online have expressed fear for the safety of their families, while others have pointed out that churches really shouldn’t need security guards.
That isn’t to say that people were ungrateful for the Michigan Community Church’s security for stopping a shooting. The security staff are now being hailed as heroes despite choosing to remain anonymous. It’s just that the need for their existence has been somewhat heartbreaking for people, and arguments against America’s ever-growing gun problem have reignited.
“Security Guards for church, that shouldn’t have to be a thing!” argues Lubizzle
“The lack of urgency in some of these people,” says Ash
“This is heartbreaking. No one should have to run for their life in a place of worship,” according to RayCaveHQ
