Michigan synagogue shooter dead, security guard injured

by · UPI

March 12 (UPI) -- An attacker died and a security guard was injured after a shooting incident at a suburban Detroit synagogue Thursday, law enforcement said.

The attacker's cause of death wasn't clear, said Michael Bouchard, sheriff of the Oakland County Sheriff's Department, at a press conference. "But security did engage the suspect with gunfire," he said.

The suspect drove through the doors of the Temple Israel building and down the hall, Bouchard said. He said the attacker was "traveling with purpose" through the hallway, and a fire started inside the vehicle.

Bouchard said the security guard was hit by the vehicle and was taken to the hospital for treatment, but is expected to be OK.

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"We're, through an abundance of caution, clearing the vehicle for [improvised explosive devices] or any explosives," Bouchard said. He said there were "a significant number of bomb dogs and bomb techs on site."

The temple houses an early learning center, but there were no reported injuries of children or staff.

Earlier reports indicated there was an active shooter at the synagogue.

FBI Director Kash Patel said agents were at Temple Israel, which is a Reform temple in Bloomfield Township, Mich. He said it was an "apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation."

A text sent to synagogue members said, "Lockdown is still in place, but the active shooter has been taken down. Lockdown will be in place until they know the shooter acted alone. All kids and staff accounted for," The New York Times reported.

"Nobody at the moment has been confirmed to be hurt, except potentially the shooter," Bouchard said earlier Thursday.

The West Bloomfield Police Department sent out an alert earlier, urging residents to stay away from the area.

Michigan State Police's Second District said troopers increased patrols at other places of worship in the area.

Noah Arbit, a Michigan state lawmaker who represents West Bloomfield and is a member of the synagogue, told The Times that he was told by a town official that a person drove into the synagogue, released some sort of explosive projectile and exchanged fire with synagogue security.

Arbit spoke to The Times from his car as he was on his way to the scene. He said Temple Israel has robust security measures, including armed guards.

"I would be lying if I hadn't thought about how I would respond and what it would be like if this happened at Temple Israel," he said.

Bouchard said officials had not identified the suspect and that it was too early to determine motive.

"West Bloomfield got on scene in a heartbeat," Bouchard told The Times, and local law enforcement had "been talking for two weeks about the potential, sadly, of this happening -- so there was no lack of preparation."

Rabbi Paul Yedwab of Temple Israel said he was standing across the street from the temple on Thursday afternoon.

"I know absolutely nothing right now," he told The Times by phone earlier. He added that "we don't know if everyone is OK" or if the shooter or shooters "is down or not."

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer described the shooting as "heartbreaking" and told The Times: "Michigan's Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace."

Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., said on X that Temple Israel is "a place I know well."

"All communities deserve the right to worship safely. All communities. And acts of terror and anti-Semitism must be condemned and dealt with to the fullest extent of the law," she said in her post.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said her heart was with the community and congregation of Temple Israel.

"Anti-Semitism has no place in Michigan and cannot be tolerated," she said in a statement. "In moments like these, it's more important than ever that we come together, stand with our neighbors, confront hate whenever it appears and build stronger communities."