Wayne, MI – A routine Sunday morning at CrossPointe Community Church ended in terror—then in triumph—as a brave church member intervened during a shooting, stopping a suspected attacker and saving lives.
On June 22, 2025, just after the 10:45?a.m. service began, a man later identified as 31-year-old Brian Browning pulled his truck onto church property and opened fire with an AR?15-style rifle and handgun (apnews.com). Roughly 150 congregants, including families and children attending Vacation Bible School, were present (apnews.com).
In a split-second act of heroism, volunteer Ron Amann, a long-time churchgoer and safety-team lead, spotted the chaos and immediately moved to defend others. Shots struck him and shattered his tibia just as another parishioner rammed the shooter with their truck—halting his advance. That pivotal move gave security guard Jay?Trombley the time to fatally stop Browning before he could enter the sanctuary (tv20detroit.com).
Now recovering at home after surgery, Ron Amann is speaking publicly for the first time. He explained how he sprang into action the moment the shooting began:
“I heard a popping… probably within seconds someone came running in… said there’s a shooter out there.” (tv20detroit.com)
Despite being wounded, Amann kept his firearm at the ready—never considering retreat (tv20detroit.com).
Meanwhile, security guard Jay Trombley described the harrowing scene to FOX?2 Detroit:
“We found out that evil came to our door, but God’s hand of protection was right over us… double-pane window stopped five rounds where I was standing… God’s hand was protecting me.” (tv20detroit.com)
Amann credits his training: just three days prior, he and Trombley had attended defensive-response training at the Peacemakers Shooting Range in Howell (tv20detroit.com). Amann emphasized the importance of readiness:
“You are your own first responder… it doesn’t matter if it’s injury or something—you are your first responder.” (tv20detroit.com)
Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr. and Wayne Police Chief Ryan Strong praised the courage and preparedness displayed by the safety team—saying their actions likely prevented far more casualties (apnews.com). The shooter, Browning, was known to have attended services with his mother in the past and was reportedly experiencing a mental health crisis, but posed no known threat beforehand (fox2detroit.com).
Amann faces a lengthy recovery, but remains resolute in his faith and his commitment to the church community. Church leadership has launched a fundraiser to support his medical bills and family as they navigate the aftermath.
This shocking turnaround—one of faith, preparation, and extraordinary heroism—serves as a powerful testimony to the resilience of ordinary people in the face of danger. The church continues lessons learned, and many are now considering similar security training efforts at other local congregations.
