Michigan

Police identify Wayne church gunman, say mental health crisis may have played role

Published

8 months ago

June 24, 2025

Press Room

Police identify Wayne church gunman, say mental health crisis may have played role

The incident was making national headlines, as police sought to investigate a motive.
Police said the incident may have been a result of a “mental health crisis.”
The suspect did not have a criminal history. His mother is a member of the church.

The heavily armed man who tried to burst into a Sunday morning service at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne but was thwarted by church security who shot him dead was identified by police as 31-year-old Brian Browning, of Romulus.

What’s more, one worshiper, who asked for prayers and thanked God no one else was killed, told the Free Press the church had trained for such a situation, and credited it with protecting “all those attending,” which included children.

By late morning on Monday, June 23, police said, it was still unclear why Browning, who was single, had targeted the church at 36125 Glenwood Road, but detectives were suggesting that it may have been a result of a “mental health crisis.”

“In today’s society, any training that can preserve life is beneficial,” Wayne Deputy Chief Finley Carter said, adding that in in today’s charged climate people should “remain vigilant and remain aware and prepared for an event.”

Browning, police said, had no previous contact with the Wayne Police Department or criminal history, and his mother, with whom he lived, is a member of the church. In the past year, he had attended two or three services there, police said.

The church, on its website, describes itself as a place where people aim “to serve and love you in whatever situation or stage of life you find yourself in,” and encourages “everyone to explore faith in God” and “connect with Jesus Christ.”

Browning, police said, was carrying several weapons, including an assault-style rifle, more than a dozen fully loaded magazines, a semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

They were all legally acquired, police noted.

Church security reacted

At a news conference on Sunday, June 22, Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong said authorities were “grateful for the heroic actions of the church’s staff members,” who he added “undoubtedly saved many lives and prevented a large-scale mass shooting.”

The security team members, police clarified, were not commercial guard service employees.

In a statement to the Free Press, police pointed out that after U.S. airstrikes this weekend on Iran, there was “no evidence to believe that this act of violence has any connection” to the Middle East conflict.

According to the police account of the shooting, a man who a witness said was erratically driving a silver SUV in the parking lot parked the vehicle on the west side of the church building. He wore camouflage clothing and a tactical vest.

He got his guns out of his vehicle.

Then, he headed toward the church entrance.

Based on multiple 911 calls just after 11 a.m., he also started shooting.

To stop him, police said, a churchgoer driving a pickup truck hit him, and a church security team, which heard the gunfire, reacted, meeting him outside the church’s main entrance. They also locked the doors so he couldn’t get in, and then they exchanged gunfire.

At least two other people were armed.

Browning, police said, was shot by church security.

When officers arrived, police said, they tried to save Browning’s life, but could not.

‘We all got out safely’

A search of Browning’s home uncovered rifles, semi-automatic handguns and ammunition.

Police did not, however, offer any theories for why he was so heavily armed.

Law enforcement in recent years has been warning of targeted violence against houses of worship in the United States, in part, because of their symbolic value, perceived lack of security and accessible locations.

Officials have urged faith-based institutions to set up a “robust security plan.”

Hostility and violence against churches in America is at a high, according to a report by the Family Research Council, which found more than 430 incidents nationwide in 2023 — more than double the number in 2022 and an 800% increase in incidents since 2018.

Don Schlamb, who emailed the Free Press not long after the shooting, briefly described what unfolded in the church, and said: “There’s a lot of hurting people out there right now. We must pray for everyone.”

He was, he wrote, in the front row for Sunday’s service, and helped move the children to safety.

“Praise the Lord, we all got out safely,” he added. “I was one of the first people who helped set up the security team at our church. We trained for situations like this. The program we put in place worked perfectly to protect all those attending the church.”

There were, police estimate, more than 100 people there.

According to some accounts, the service included a Vacation Bible School presentation.

A video recording of the worship service, which was streaming online, has been removed.

In addition to the shooter, there was, however, one other injury.

One church security member, whose name was not released by police, was hit in the leg by gunfire and taken to a local hospital, where, police said, after a successful surgery, he was in stable condition.

Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com.

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Michigan

New Michigan O-line coach Jim Harding has one goal for spring practice

Published

11 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

New Michigan O-line coach Jim Harding has one goal for spring practice

Jim Harding, Michigan’s new offensive line coach, has one goal coming out of spring practice: he wants to have a set starting five plus a solid sixth lineman for good measure.

Michigan begins spring practice March 17 and concludes with the spring game on April 18.

Harding, appearing on the Michigan in-house podcast, “In the Trenches” hosted by Jon Jansen, joined new Michigan head coach Kyle Whittingham’s staff from Utah, where Whittingham was head coach the last 21 years. Harding spoke about a number of topics, including returning to the Midwest — he grew up in Maumee, Ohio, and his wife is from Farmington Hills — and his love for the Detroit Tigers, but most important was his discussion about building the Wolverines’ offensive line.

“I’d like to establish the starting five where you feel good that when you go into fall camp,” Harding said on the podcast that posted Wednesday. “Those are the guys that are working together immediately from Day 1.”

Harding said he uses a sixth lineman — he terms that player the “rhino” — quite a bit and would like to have at least two ready to go. The Wolverines also need depth at center considering only Jake Guarnera has snapped in a game.

“And then just having that physicality, nastiness of the offensive line,” Harding said. “Just kind of develop that.”

Since arriving earlier this year at Michigan, Harding said he’s been impressed by the linemen and their desire to work hard on conditioning and developing their craft by asking questions and wanting feedback. They have gone to dinner as a group to get to know each other away from the facility, and Harding has enjoyed the process.

“The things that you can’t measure right now is our physicality or our toughness, things like that,” Harding said. “I’m confident that it won’t be an issue, but that’s kind of the next step once we get pads on, (finding out) who are kind of the Alpha dogs in the room that are going to set the tone for the unit, and then, obviously, the offense. But really pleased with what I’ve seen so far.”

Harding shared offensive coordinator Jason Beck’s approach to installing the offense.

“The way (Beck) runs it, everything’s on the table Day 1 in practice,” Harding said on the podcast. “So we’ll get a script with, if you count red zone, probably 60 or so plays, and any play can be called. It’s really unique, and I’d never done it this way, but Coach Beck, actually calls it like he does in the game. There are no scripts, and so we’ll just move the ball down the field, and if it’s a third play and it’s third and 3, well he’s going to call a third-and-3 call.

“So you really have to have the kids prepared for all 60 of those. And then the next day there’ll be maybe different formations and things like that once we get the concepts down in the O-line room for the run game. Now it’s just a matter of dressing up different things. It’s a lot of stuff early on, because every run scheme we have could be called on that first day, every pass protection we have could be called on that first day. So it’s a front-loaded installation.”

achengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis

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Michigan

Bills to end concealed carry permit requirement introduced in Michigan House

Published

23 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Bills to end concealed carry permit requirement introduced in Michigan House

LANSING, Mich. — A group of Republicans in the Michigan House say Michiganders’ second amendment rights are being infringed, as they introduce legislation to end requirements for concealed carry permits.

Right now, Michiganders must obtain a permit to carry a concealed gun, with a base fee of $100.

As part of the process, applicants must also receive training.

“The first thing they do is put you in a classroom, make sure you know all proper range and safety procedures, run you over what the law states about when and if you’re allowed to use your firearm,” Jonathan Hold, president of the Michigan chapter of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety and a firearms instructor, said. “It gives a really good grounding.”

Applicants must demonstrate four hours of range time as well.

The group of House Republicans feel this is an undue burden, noting many gun owners are already knowledgeable.

They also believe the current five-year felony for carrying without a permit is too steep.

“For the government of the state of Michigan to tell that that we have to be qualified under the guise of their rules in order to protect ourselves is a far cry from what the constitution provides for us,” Rep. Jay DeBoyer, (R- Clay) said.

The package of bills wouldn’t abolish permits, as they are necessary to take guns outside of the state, but it would institute what’s called “constitutional carry.”

That means Michiganders can carry a gun on them without a permit.

Twenty-nine other states already adopted such policies.

“When we exercise other first amendment rights like our right to speak, we do not have to get a permit or permission from the government to speak,” Rep. Jim DeSana (R- Carleton) said. “When we exercise our right to worship, we do not have to go get a permit or permission to go worship.”

Supporters say concealed guns are important for self-defense, and can also help stop crime.

“It’s going to encourage and increase safety for all,” Rep. Joseph Fox (R- Fremont) said. “It’s about protecting everybody because if there are guns in this situation, and people are worried for their lives, they’re gonna stay back away from evil and making bad choices.”

Gun control advocates like Gold, however, say it’s “ridiculous” not to have guardrails.

“We’re talking about the power of life and death at a distance,” Gold said. “To send an untrained user out into the world with a firearm is a mistake.”

He also takes issue with the constitution argument.

“The constitution says as part of a well regulated militia, if you read the second amendment, and we don’t have well regulated militias in this country,” Gold said. “At the very least, what we should have are trained firearms users.”

A similar effort to end concealed carry permits failed to gain traction last year in the Michigan Senate, and with the landscape unchanged, the bills likely have an uphill battle to become law.

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Michigan

Werewolf, trout ruled in ’24. What will be next ‘I voted’ sticker

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Werewolf, trout ruled in ’24. What will be next ‘I voted’ sticker

The rewarding feeling of wearing an “I Voted” sticker after turning in your ballot is something everyone can relate to.

Michigan voters can take it one step farther and vote on the design for the Election Day tradition.

The Michigan Department of State announced on March 3 the return of the highly competitive “I Voted” sticker contest in preparation for the state’s general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

“Our first-ever ‘I Voted’ sticker design contest in 2024 was a massive success,” Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said in a March 3 release. “This year we look forward to seeing the creative ways Michiganders of all ages celebrate democracy. Submit your entry to help us continue the tradition and get voters excited to cast their ballot this fall.”

Designs are being accepted online via the Secretary of State’s “I Voted” webpage: Michigan.gov/IVotedSticker. On the page, participants may print or download the official entry form.

Design and entry rules, the sticker template, and tips and suggestions are included on the official entry form.

There are three categories — elementary/middle school (grades K-8), high school (grades 9-12) and Michigan residents of all ages. Designs are due at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1.

Once submissions are closed, the public may vote for finalists online in June. Winners will be announced and celebrated later in the summer. Winning stickers will be dispersed to local election clerks for the November Election.

In 2024, there were more than 480 submissions, and more than 57,700 voters selected the nine winners, according to the release. Before the contest opened up for a public vote, the Michigan Collegiate Student Advisory Task Force members narrowed the submissions down to 25 semifinalists.

Here’s the 2024 winners and rules for the 2026 participants:

What did the winning 2024 ‘I Voted’ sticker designs look like?

Want to enter a design? Here are the ‘I Voted’ sticker contest rules

According to the Secretary of State, here’s what to keep in mind for your sticker:

Designs must be completed using official entry form.
Designs must include the phrase “I voted” AND be nonpartisan in nature.
Artwork must be original, non-AI generated, and not contain copyrighted or trademarked designs.
Entries can be created using your preferred method (digital, paint, crayon, mixed media, etc.)
Provide as high quality of resolution as possible when submitting your design.
There are three categories — elementary/middle school (grades K-8), high school (grades 9-12) and Michigan residents of all ages. You may enter one design in one category.
Designs are due at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 1.

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com

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