WAYNE, Mich. — 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!''