WAYNE, Mich. (AP) — A pastor said Monday that the “hand of God” prevented a mass shooting at his Detroit-area church when an armed man was struck by a pickup truck and fatally shot by security staff before he could enter and attack more than 100 people.
On Monday, a day after the thwarted attack, the leader of CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne praised the actions of the security team, which has been in place for more than 10 years. Pastor Bobby Kelly said he had met the gunman three times in the past.
“I can’t say for sure what was in his heart or in his mind because he’s never threatened me in any way,” Kelly told The Associated Press. “This young man was definitely struggling mentally. He thought he was hearing from God. We had some conversations about that.”
Children from the church’s vacation Bible school were leading Sunday’s worship and were finishing a song when the congregation heard gunfire outside. Kelly, who was poised to start his sermon, initially thought the noise was coming from a construction crew.
A member of the security team rushed in and told everyone to get out. A livestream video shows people carrying children or directing them to get down and move away. …