Police say a man opened fire outside a church before staff fatally shot him, averting mass shooting
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A man opened fire outside a Michigan church filled with people on Sunday but was stopped by a vehicle and then fatally shot by security staff, preventing a potential mass shooting, police reported.

Those attending a morning service at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne observed the gunman driving erratically. He got out of his car wearing a tactical vest, armed with a rifle and a handgun, according to Police Chief Ryan Strong at a news conference held later that day.

The man began firing as he approached the church, striking one person in the leg.

“A parishioner hit the gunman with their vehicle as he fired shots at it,” Strong informed the media. “At least two staff members then shot the attacker, delivering 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.

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.

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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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This story has been updated to correct the capitalization of CrossePointe.

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