Richard Pryor, a deacon at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, is being recognized for his extraordinary courage after intervening in an attempted mass shooting on Sunday, June 22.
According to Steven Lewellyn, who launched a fundraiser to support Pryor, the deacon was in the church parking lot when he saw a heavily armed man approaching the church entrance.
Realizing the imminent danger, Pryor acted swiftly—using his Ford F-150 truck to strike the gunman, effectively halting his advance and buying crucial seconds for church security to respond.
“Richard’s quick thinking and bravery gave our armed security team the time they needed to neutralize the threat before anyone else could be harmed,” Lewellyn wrote.
Pryor’s truck was hit by multiple rounds during the confrontation and was destroyed in the process.
The Wayne Police Department confirmed that the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning of Romulus, had arrived at the church wearing camouflage clothing and a tactical vest, retrieving firearms from his vehicle with the apparent intent to enter the building.
He was ultimately shot and killed by a church security guard outside the entrance before police arrived.
According to Senior Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr., the suspect never made it inside the church, though he fired several shots toward the building.
Approximately 150 people, including a large number of children, were attending a vacation Bible school service at the time.
“[Browning] was run over by one of our members who saw what was happening as he arrived,” Pastor Kelly told media. “The security guard then had enough time to respond.”
A security team member was injured, suffering a gunshot wound to the leg, but no other attendees were physically harmed.
Video footage from the church’s livestream captured the moment panic spread through the congregation. Commands like “Get down!” and “Everybody to the back!” can be heard as staff quickly moved to protect those inside.
Wayne Police later confirmed that Browning had no prior criminal record and no history of police encounters, but believe he may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
Investigators said Browning had visited the church on three occasions over the past year and was the son of a woman who occasionally attended services, though neither were official members of the congregation.
“We are incredibly grateful for the heroic actions of the church’s staff and members,” the Wayne Police Department stated. “Their bravery undoubtedly prevented a large-scale tragedy.”
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Wayne Police Department.
A fundraiser is currently underway to support Deacon Richard Pryor, whose selfless actions may have saved dozens of lives.
His truck, which was destroyed in the incident, symbolized the quick response that stopped a devastating attack.
