31 year-old Brian Anthony Browning has been identified as the man who opened fire outside a Michigan church filled with worshippers before he was struck by a vehicle and then fatally shot by security staff.
According to police Browning had attended services there a couple of times in the last year and his mother is a member of the said church in Wayne.
In a viral video clip that circulated on social media, Several people can be seen carrying or directing children to duck down and move away in a livestream video of the Sunday morning service at CrossPointe Community Church.
“C’mon, everybody to the back,” a woman calls out. The woman, who was initially crouching between two rows of seats, stands and waves an arm. “Please, everyone come to the back!”
People, some of them ducking their heads, rush out as others can be heard yelling “Go!” and “Come on!”
A loud crack is heard and people can be heard crying out as those remaining run and walk quickly out of sight.
According to news release of the Wayne Police Department, the 31-year-old may be suffering a mental health crisis.
Churchgoers 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 driving a pickup truck hit the man and the church security team locked the front doors and exchanged gunfire with the man, police said. At least two staff members shot him, Strong said. About 150 people were inside the church at the time.
“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.
One member of the security team was shot in the leg and was listed in stable condition at a hospital after undergoing surgery, the news release said. No one else was hurt.
Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter III said hours later that it was too early to know a motive.
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