Michigan Church Shooter Killed by Security Guard
On Sunday morning around 11 a.m., 31‑year‑old Brian Anthony Browning, dressed in a tactical vest and armed with a rifle and handgun, stepped from his vehicle and began shooting near the entrance of CrossPointe Community Church. Inside, about 150 worshippers were mid-service. Browning fired a round that wounded one person in the leg before being struck by a pickup truck driven by a church parishioner.
The truck collision caused Browning to fall, giving trained church security staff the opportunity to respond. Several security personnel then returned fire, fatally shooting him. One security team member was injured in the leg and later stabilized at a hospital. No other injuries were reported.
Browning had no criminal history but may have been experiencing a mental health crisis, according to the Wayne Police Department. Police say he was not affiliated with the church, although his mother is a member, and he had attended the church sporadically over the past year.
A woman can be heard over livestream urging worshippers to move to the church’s back:
“Everybody to the back, please… Come on!”
Hearkened by a loud crack, congregants scattered as fear and urgency filled the room.
The Wayne Police Department is working alongside the FBI to determine Browning’s motive. Authorities also conducted a search of his Romulus home, discovering additional firearms and a large ammunition supply.
The decisive and rapid response by parishioners and security staff likely prevented a larger tragedy. Police Chief Ryan Strong commended their actions as life-saving. The absence of prior criminal behavior and possible mental health issues highlight broader challenges in identifying individuals at risk. This incident underscores the importance of trained personnel and swift defensive measures at places of worship.
