A man was stopped from possibly carrying out a mass shooting outside a church on Sunday when he was hit by a vehicle and then shot by church security.
The incident happened around 11 a.m. at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, a city located about 25 miles west of Detroit. Around 150 people were attending the morning service when the gunman arrived.
According to police, the man was driving recklessly near the church. Witnesses saw him get out of his car wearing a tactical vest and carrying both a rifle and a handgun. He started shooting as he walked toward the church, hitting one person in the leg.
One church member acted quickly and hit the gunman with a pickup truck. At the same time, church staff members who were armed fired at the attacker and fatally shot him.
Police identified the shooter as a 31-year-old white man who had no connection to the church. Authorities believe he may have been experiencing a mental health crisis, but his exact motive is still unknown.
The injured person was treated and is expected to recover. No one else was hurt thanks to the fast action of the churchgoers and staff.
Police praised the brave actions of the church members. “They saved many lives and stopped what could have been a tragic mass shooting,” said Police Chief Ryan Strong.
The FBI is helping with the investigation, but more information about the shooter’s background or motive is still being gathered.
