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Ordinary people work together to save the day

By Sarah Shurge church family. Most people were run-
Sunday, June 22nd, started off as ning to the right; I ran to the left.”
a service of celebration for members Amann and Trombley ran to the
of CrossPointe Community Church. lobby, and through the chaos, saw
CrossPointe was having a special someone dressed in full military gear
service for their children’s Vacation and someone in a pickup truck.
Bible School (VBS). The prior Sun- “I spent time assessing, trying to
day, service was held outside and figure out what was happening,” said
service was planned to be outside Trombley. Trombley retreated away
again that day. from the door, back into the building,
CrossPointe has held outdoor around the same time that Browning
services since COVID and half of the shot into the church.
congregation really enjoys it. How- “I watched him shove a magazine
ever, Bobby Kelly, CrossePointe Com- into the rifle, he turned around and
munity Church Lead Pastor, moved pulled the trigger. He had turned it
the service inside for the VBS pro- to automatic and shot out the glass.
gram. It hit me in the leg. I tried to stand
Jay Trombley and Ron Amann, up and my leg didn't do anything. I
CrossPointe safety team members, knew I'd been hit,” said Amann.
were sitting in the congregation A team member checked on
watching the VBS program. Amann Amann.
was sitting next to his wife, while “Ron got hit. I didn't. I’m not sure
holding his grandson on his lap. His how when we look at the impact of
two daughters were next to his wife, where rounds traveled,” said Tromb-
holding their youngest. ley. “God protected me.”
Since there was a special service Trombley circled back around
that morning, CrossPointe didn’t the wall, engaging Browning with his
hold Sunday School or serve break- firearm.
fast that morning. Knowing this, Dea- Meanwhile, Pryor sat in a truck
con Richard Pryor, CrossPointe that wouldn’t move.
member, decided to make breakfast “With what he [Browning] did to
at home instead of stopping to get the truck, I realized he had powerful
breakfast. Service had already weapons,” said Pryor. “I saw a safety
started, and Pryor was listening to team member in the rearview mirror
the live cast on his way into church. behind the AC unit. People were now
Pryor pulled into the parking lot, aware of the situation.”
parked his truck, and was getting This safety team member wishes
ready to go inside when he saw Brian to remain anonymous and will be re-
Browning enter the parking lot. ferred to as SM (Safety Member).
Browning, of Romulus, MI, SM was using the air condition-
Wayne Memorial High School 2012 ing unit for cover as he was engaging
Valedictorian, was dressed in camou- Browning with shots, while Tromb-
flage and a tactical vest, and began ley was inside the church shooting
retrieving weapons from his vehicle. through shattered windows.
Pryor didn’t have a weapon in his Hoping not to get shot at again,
vehicle, so he used his vehicle as a Pryor exited his vehicle, ran west to-
weapon and hit Browning with his wards the apartments, and hid be-
truck. CrossPointe church members, Jay Trombley and Ron Amann, CrossPointe safety hind one of the cars.
“Calling 911 and the dispatcher team members, with Deacon Richard Pryor. Photo by John Rhaesa “I saw SM engaging. Then it went
saying ‘hold on,’ I realized there was- when Pryor tried to get it to move. Trombley turned around to look quiet,” said Pryor. The safety team
n't enough time for Wayne Police to Inside the church, the kids had into the Cry Room – which has a was effective with their shots and
arrive. Out of all options available to just finished their VBS program and glass window – and he could see peo- Browning was taken out.
me, that was the best I could do at Pastor Kelly was getting prepared to ple running and panicking. He SM and Trombley approached
the moment,” said Pryor. come on stage for the sermon when opened the door to ask, “what was Browning’s body and got his weapon
After hitting him, Pryor sat up in Pastor Kelly, Trombley, Amann, and that?” [regarding the noise] and he away from him. Trombley noticed
his seat to see if Browning was the congregation heard a strange heard someone say “AR-15.” Browning also had a handgun on his
downed. Browning was on the noise outside. “Someone came running in saying side, and he carefully got that away
ground, shaking his head. At first, Pastor Kelly thought it ‘there’s a man with a gun’,” said too.
Pryor tried to put the truck in might be tools working outside. Amann. “I passed off my grandson to SM and Trombley kept cover,
drive to hit Browning again, when Trombley thought it was a mechani- my wife. I wasn't on Safety that day, Pryor started making his way back
Browning opened fire at the truck. cal issue like the AC running or a but I knew it was part of my respon-
There was no action from the truck pipe. sibility to protect my family and my See Ordinary, page 4
The Wayne Dispatch · August 2025 · 3