Sho*ter Reported at Mich. Synagogue as Vehicle Rams Into Building, Suspect Reportedly Dea*d
Police say a vehicle was intentionally driven into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield before the gunman began shooting
Law enforcement responded to a tense situation at a synagogue in Michigan after reports that a vehicle crashed into the building. Authorities say the incident occurred on Thursday, prompting an immediate response from local police and federal officials.
Police in West Bloomfield, Mich. said they responded to reports of an active shooter at Temple Israel on the afternoon of March 12, per Click On Detroit, The Detroit News and WXYZ.
The Associated Press later reported that the suspect was deceased.
The congregation describes itself on its website as the largest Reform synagogue in the United States, with about 12,000 members, and houses a pre-school on site, per the website.
The shooting unfolded alongside an “apparent vehicle ramming” into the synagogue in the township about 28 miles northwest of downtown Detroit, per Patel.
Authorities believe the car intentionally drove into the synagogue, Click on Detroit reported, adding that the vehicle then caught fire.
The local sheriff in Oakland County, Michael Bouchard, told media the perpetrator exchanged gunfire with security guards and was killed. A security guard was hit by the car and was taken to the hospital to be treated for his injuries, and is expected to be okay, Bouchard said. He noted that no students or staff at the school were injured.
Footage published by WXYZ showed smoke coming out of at least two areas of the temple.
According to WXYZ, police have responded to other temples in the area to provide security.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit said they’re monitoring the situation.
“Our Jewish agencies are currently in precautionary lockdown. We ask community members to stay away from the area at this time,” the federation wrote on Facebook.
It wasn’t immediately clear if there were injuries or casualties.
Local schools are also closed.
The West Bloomfield School District said in a statement to Click on Detroit: “We have been alerted by the West Bloomfield Police Department of a police situation in the community.”
