In a dramatic confrontation on Sunday morning, a potentially devastating active shooter attack at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, was swiftly neutralized by the decisive actions of the church’s security team and staff. Authorities credit their heroic response with preventing what they described as a large-scale mass shooting.
The incident unfolded around 11 a.m. local time during a special Vacation Bible School service, a time when approximately 150 people, including a significant number of children, were gathered inside the church building.
According to police and church officials, a 31-year-old man from Romulus arrived at the church driving erratically, which initially drew the attention of staff members. The suspect then exited his vehicle, a Nissan truck, wearing a tactical vest and heavily armed with both a long gun and a handgun. He immediately began firing shots towards the exterior of the church building.
As gunfire erupted, attendees inside the church initially mistook the sounds for nearby construction noise. However, alerted by a security guard, people quickly realized the danger and began to evacuate or take cover, as captured on a church service livestream.
Rather than flee, several church staff members actively confronted the armed assailant outside. In a critical moment that bought valuable time for others to react, a parishioner reportedly used their pickup truck to strike the gunman as he continued firing at the vehicle.
The confrontation culminated when two members of the church’s security team, who are said to be trained in emergency response, opened fire on the suspect, fatally wounding him and stopping the attack.
During the intense exchange, one member of the security team sustained a gunshot wound to the leg from the assailant. While requiring surgery, the injury was described by police as non-life-threatening. Crucially, no other individuals inside the church were injured by the gunfire.
Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong praised the actions of the church personnel. “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,” Chief Strong stated, adding that their quick response likely prevented “dozens of people from being murdered.” Church leadership indicated they had established a security team about a decade prior, citing concerns about violence at places of worship nationwide.
Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Wayne Police Department, Michigan State Police, the Wayne County Sheriff’s office, and the FBI, responded rapidly to the scene. As a precautionary measure, a police bomb squad and a bomb-sniffing dog were brought in, although authorities did not immediately confirm if explosives were involved in the incident.
The identity of the deceased suspect has not yet been publicly released by police. His specific motivations for the attack remain under investigation. Based on initial interviews, police suggested the gunman may have been suffering from a mental health crisis. Authorities also noted that the suspect did not appear to have a prior criminal history and is believed to have acted alone, with no known prior connection to CrossPointe Community Church.
Although this incident occurred during a period of heightened national threat awareness following recent geopolitical events, investigators stated it was not immediately known if the church attack had any direct connection to those broader circumstances.
The church staff members involved in stopping the attacker have requested to remain anonymous. Local officials commended their bravery and decisive actions in preventing a greater tragedy. The church plans to develop a formal plan for addressing the aftermath of the event as the investigation continues.
This developing story highlights the critical role of trained and prepared security teams in mitigating active threat situations and underscores the potential for significant loss of life to be averted through brave intervention.
