Latest news with #BobbyKelly
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Yahoo
Michigan church shooter told pastor that he was a prophet and ‘heard from God'
The man accused of attempting to carry out a mass shooting at a church in suburban Detroit had previously debated with the group's pastor about religion, telling him he had 'heard from God.' Months before Brian Browning's attempted attack on Sunday service at the CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, he had visited to debate with Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr, Fox 2 Detroit reports. Speaking the day after Browning's planned rampage was thwarted by church security, Kelly said the 31-year-old man had said he was a prophet. 'He said he heard from God,' the pastor said on Monday. Recalling their first meeting earlier this year, Kelly said: 'He had some questions about the Bible. He kind of challenged me on some things in the Bible, and so we went back and forth about some scripture for a little bit.' At a second meeting in February, it became apparent that the man was seeking help, said the pastor: 'He seemed to be genuine about needing some help.' He continued: 'I don't know exactly what it was, cause he didn't say — didn't say it was mental health. He didn't say it was an issue that he had or any of that, he just said you know, 'can you help me with some things?' and I said sure.' Browning also had a family connection to CrossPointe Community Church. His mother had been a member of the group for months, which Kelly confirmed. 'She was recently baptized at one of our services, I believe in October of last year, and we've been knowing her for many years,' he said. Despite these connections to the church, it is not clear why Browning, who had no prior criminal history, allegedly attempted a mass shooting of parishioners. He was armed with a handgun, an AR-15, and 500 rounds of ammunition, according to police. His motive remains unknown. There was no connection to military strikes in the Middle East, as had been suggested online, given the timing of his actions, the morning after U.S. bombers attacked Iranian nuclear sites, amid Israel's war on Iran. Browning was shot dead by church security guards, having been run down by a Ford SUV driven by the church's deacon. One of the security guards sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. City of Wayne Police spent hours on Sunday investigating the scene before reporting details in the evening. Browning was formally identified some hours later. Police chief Ryan Strong thanked those present for their quick reaction to the threat, saying: "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.'
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
Man who opened fire outside a Michigan church had attended services there with his mom, pastor says
WAYNE, Mich. (AP) — The man who opened fire outside a Michigan church filled with worshippers before he was struck by a vehicle and fatally shot by security staff had attended services there a few times with his mother, the lead pastor said Monday. Brian Anthony Browning's mother attended the CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne in spurts but was not a regular member, Pastor Bobby Kelly said. She was not there Sunday, said Kelly, who recalled meeting her son late last year. 'He first came when his mother invited him, and I met him,' Kelly said. 'He seemed to really have some thoughts that were not threatening or anything like that, but he definitely had some thoughts as far as hearing from God.' Children from the church's vacation Bible school were leading Sunday's worship and were just finishing up their last song when the congregation heard gunfire outside. Kelly, who was about to start his sermon, initially thought the noise was a jackhammer or a problem with the sound system. 'The third time is when we knew something was going on, because it was very close, and then one of our security team members came into the sanctuary doors from the lobby and told everyone to get out,' he said. A livestream video shows people carrying children or directing them to get down and move away. '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 cry out. Those remaining run and walk quickly out of sight. Browning, 31, did not have any previous contacts with local police or a criminal history, but may have been suffering a mental health crisis, the Wayne Police Department said in a news release. Kelly said a church member arriving late to the service spotted Browning driving recklessly and called out to him as he exited his car wearing a tactical vest and carrying a rifle and a handgun. The church member struck Browning with his pickup truck. 'He is a hero," Kelly said of the parishioner. 'I think that was the Lord leading him to do that. He hit this individual with his car, drove right on the grass because he was shooting at the building at the time. And that certainly helped the team to be able to respond.' The man began firing as he approached the church, striking one person in the leg. At least two staff members shot him, Police Chief Ryan 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 at a news conference Sunday night. 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 is a city of about 17,000 people located about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Detroit. Police executing a search warrant at Browning's home in Romulus, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Wayne, found additional rifles, several more handguns and a large amount of ammunition, the news release said. Browning's mother did not respond to a Facebook message sent Sunday by The Associated Press. 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!'' Kelly, who has been pastor for about 10 years, had intended to preach about God's 'hand of deliverance" and His ability to save and protect. In drawing up the church calendar, he originally planned to have two outdoor services in June but months ago decided to only do one, on Father's Day. 'We weren't outside yesterday when we would have been,' he said. 'We were definitely protected by the hand of God, there is no question about it." ___ Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press journalists Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin, and Christopher Weber in Los Angeles contributed to this report. Paul Sancya And Holly Ramer, The Associated Press
CTV News
23-06-2025
- CTV News
Police say a man opened fire outside Michigan church before staff fatally shot him, averting mass shooting
WAYNE, Mich. — A Michigan police chief said church staff stopped a man armed with a handgun and a long gun, averting a potential mass shooting at a church west of Detroit on Sunday morning. Chief Ryan Strong said parishioners at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne spotted the gunman driving recklessly and then saw him exit his vehicle wearing a tactical vest and carrying weapons. The man began firing as he approached the building during a church service and was confronted, Strong said at a news conference. 'A parishioner struck the gunman with his vehicle as the gunman shot the vehicle repeatedly,' Strong said. 'At least two staff members shot the gunman, causing the fatal wounds.' Strong said the gunman's motive remains unclear, but it appears he was suffering from a mental health crisis. The shooting happened around 11 a.m. at the church in Wayne, a city of about 17,000 people some 25 miles (40 kilometers) west of Detroit, the church's pastor, Bobby Kelly Jr., told the Detroit News earlier. Kelly said a church member ran the suspect over with his truck, giving security staff time to shoot him. Police described the suspect as a 31-year-old white male. Police said one person was shot in the leg. The pastor said no one else was hurt and about 150 people were attending the service. 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 earlier Sunday 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.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Suspect shot and killed by a security guard after a shooting at a church in Michigan
A gunman opened fire during a service at a suburban Detroit church on Sunday, wounding one person before he was shot and killed by a security guard, police said. The shooting happened at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, a city of about 17,000 people outside Detroit around 11 a.m., the church's pastor, Bobby Kelly Jr., told the Detroit News. Police said one person was shot in the leg. Kelly said a church member ran the suspect over with his truck, giving the security guard time to shoot him. Police described the suspect as a 31-year-old White male. The person who was shot in the leg was the security guard, the pastor told the newspaper. No one else was hurt, he said. About 150 people were attending the service, Kelly said. Messages left by The Associated Press on Sunday with the Wayne Police Department, on the church voicemail and on the church's Facebook page were not immediately returned. This story has been updated with additional details.
The Independent
22-06-2025
- The Independent
Police: Suspect shot and killed by a security guard after a shooting at a Michigan church
A gunman opened fire during a service at a suburban Detroit church on Sunday, wounding one person before he was shot and killed by a security guard, police said. The shooting happened around 11 a.m. at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, a city of about 17,000 people some 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Detroit, the church's pastor, Bobby Kelly Jr., told the Detroit News. Police said one person was shot in the leg. Kelly said a church member ran the suspect over with his truck, giving the security guard time to shoot him. Police described the suspect as a 31-year-old white male. The person who was shot in the leg was the security guard, the pastor told the newspaper. No one else was hurt, he said. About 150 people were attending the service, Kelly said. Wayne Police Deputy Chief Finley Carter III said it was too early to know why the church was attacked. 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. ___
