WAYNE, Mich. – A planned mass shooting at a suburban Detroit church was thwarted on Sunday when members intervened, resulting in the suspect’s death. The suspect, identified by police as 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning from Romulus, was the son of a parishioner at the church.
Immediate Impact
According to Wayne police, Browning arrived at CrossPointe Community Church armed with an AR-15 style rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The church, located near Newburgh Road, was hosting a special youth service attended by approximately 150 people at the time.
Key Details Emerge
Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong reported that a church member noticed Browning’s vehicle being driven erratically and alerted authorities. As Browning exited his vehicle and began shooting, a quick-thinking parishioner used a Ford F-150 truck to incapacitate him. Church security then engaged and fatally shot Browning.
“The church security team was alerted by the gunfire and reacted quickly to engage the suspect outside the main entrance doors of the church,” police said in a statement.
By the Numbers
- 150 people in attendance at the church service
- More than a dozen fully loaded magazines recovered
- Hundreds of rounds of ammunition found
Background Context
Browning had attended services at the church two or three times over the past year. Despite no previous criminal history or known contact with Wayne Police, investigators suggest Browning may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Browning’s residence, uncovering additional firearms and ammunition. Police have stated there is no evidence linking the incident to any broader conflicts, including those in the Middle East.
Industry Response
CrossPointe Community Church has expressed gratitude for the swift actions of its members and law enforcement. In a public statement, the church thanked the “many heroes” who helped prevent a potential tragedy and announced temporary closure for repairs and cleaning.
“As details emerge, we are seeing God’s hand of protection more clearly in how what could have been, simply wasn’t,” the church stated on its website.
What Comes Next
The church plans to utilize grief counseling services and community support in the aftermath. They have called for prayers for both the church community and Browning’s family, acknowledging their shared pain.
Moving forward, the church remains committed to its mission, stating, “We will continue to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness and clarity.”
Meanwhile, the investigation continues with the assistance of local law enforcement agencies and the FBI. Wayne Police Chief Strong commended the preparedness of the church’s security team, which was established nearly a decade ago in response to violence at other places of worship across the United States.
For further updates, please contact [email protected] or [email protected].
