Police say a man opened fire outside a church before staff fatally shot
him, averting mass shooting
[June 23, 2025]
By PAUL SANCYA and HOLLY RAMER
WAYNE, Mich. (AP) — A man who opened fire outside a Michigan church
filled with worshippers on Sunday was struck by a vehicle and then
fatally shot by security staff who averted a potential mass shooting,
police said.
Churchgoers attending a morning service at CrossPointe Community Church
in Wayne spotted the gunman driving recklessly and then saw him exit his
car wearing a tactical vest and carrying a rifle and a handgun, police
Chief Ryan Strong said at an evening news conference.
The man began firing as he approached the church, striking one person in
the leg.
“A parishioner struck the gunman with his vehicle as the gunman shot the
vehicle repeatedly,” Strong told reporters. “At least two staff members
shot the gunman, causing the fatal wounds.”
Police described the suspect as a 31-year-old white male with no known
connection to the church. His motive remains unclear, but it appears he
was suffering from a mental health crisis, Strong said.
The shooting occurred around 11 a.m. in Wayne, a city of about 17,000
people located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Detroit. The
person who was shot in the leg was treated for non-life-threatening
injuries, the chief said. Nobody else was hurt.
Strong said a church member ran the suspect over with his pickup truck,
giving security staff time to shoot him.
“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,” the chief said.
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Police walk by an idle vehicle near CrossPointe Community Church in
Wayne, Mich., Sunday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
About 150 people were inside the church at the time. The church's
website says it hosts a worship service on Sundays at 10:45 a.m.
Worshipper Wendy Bodin said she heard a loud “boom” and when she
looked outside, she saw a man sprawled out on the grass in front of
the church. “I thought he got hit or crashed his car or was hurt,”
Bodin told WXYZ-TV. “And another lady saw and pointed to me and
said, ‘Oh my, call 911!’”
Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter III said hours later that it
was too early to know a motive. FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino
tweeted that bureau “leadership and support teams” were at the scene
and helping with the investigation.
Messages left by The Associated Press on Sunday on voicemail and a
Facebook page for the church were not immediately returned.
___
Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press
journalists Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin, and Christopher
Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report.
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