A terrifying incident unfolded at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, on the morning of June 22, when a man opened fire during a Sunday service. The shooter, identified as a 31-year-old male, was shot and killed by a security guard before police arrived.
The quick actions of a deacon and the church’s security guard helped prevent further bloodshed, but the church community is left shaken by the violent attack.
The Attack
According to the Wayne Police Department, the shooting occurred during a church service in the Detroit suburb. The attacker, a 31-year-old White male, began firing shots into the church but did not enter the building.
Senior Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr. confirmed that the church was filled with around 150 people, including more children than usual.
The attack was quickly stopped when a church deacon, who was arriving at the service, saw what was happening. The deacon, in an act of heroism, ran over the attacker with his Ford F-150 truck. This gave the church’s security guard enough time to shoot and kill the gunman before officers could arrive on the scene.
The Church’s Response
The attack caused panic inside the church as people scrambled to find safety. A livestream of the service captured the moment when church leaders urgently directed attendees to move to the back of the building. “Get down,” one person can be heard saying as chaos unfolded, with another leader directing people to safety.
Despite the violence, only one person was injured— the security guard, who was hurt in the incident but is reportedly doing fine. The church community has rallied together, and Pastor Kelly shared that the children who were present during the attack are “doing good.”
Investigating the Incident
In the aftermath of the attack, authorities from multiple agencies have launched an investigation. According to the Wayne Police Department, the shooter was not a member of the church.
Pastor Kelly mentioned that the church would be putting a formal plan in place to support their congregation and address the aftermath of the incident.
The church community has been supporting each other, and members are working through the traumatic event together. Kelly said the church would be working on a formal response plan to ensure the safety and well-being of its congregation in the future.
This tragic event highlights the ongoing threats faced by religious communities and the importance of quick action in preventing further violence.
Thanks to the swift responses of the deacon and the security guard, the shooting was contained before more lives were lost. The church now looks ahead to healing and supporting each other as they process the events of that morning.
