Crime
Deacon Richard Pryor Hailed for Stopping Potential Mass Shooting by Striking Suspect Brian Browning with truck at Crosspoint Community Church
Richard Pryor, a deacon at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, is being recognized for his extraordinary courage after intervening in an attempted mass shooting on Sunday, June 22.
According to Steven Lewellyn, who launched a fundraiser to support Pryor, the deacon was in the church parking lot when he saw a heavily armed man approaching the church entrance.
Realizing the imminent danger, Pryor acted swiftly—using his Ford F-150 truck to strike the gunman, effectively halting his advance and buying crucial seconds for church security to respond.
“Richard’s quick thinking and bravery gave our armed security team the time they needed to neutralize the threat before anyone else could be harmed,” Lewellyn wrote.
Pryor’s truck was hit by multiple rounds during the confrontation and was destroyed in the process.
The Wayne Police Department confirmed that the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning of Romulus, had arrived at the church wearing camouflage clothing and a tactical vest, retrieving firearms from his vehicle with the apparent intent to enter the building.
He was ultimately shot and killed by a church security guard outside the entrance before police arrived.
According to Senior Pastor Bobby Kelly Jr., the suspect never made it inside the church, though he fired several shots toward the building.
Approximately 150 people, including a large number of children, were attending a vacation Bible school service at the time.
“[Browning] was run over by one of our members who saw what was happening as he arrived,” Pastor Kelly told media. “The security guard then had enough time to respond.”
A security team member was injured, suffering a gunshot wound to the leg, but no other attendees were physically harmed.
Video footage from the church’s livestream captured the moment panic spread through the congregation. Commands like “Get down!” and “Everybody to the back!” can be heard as staff quickly moved to protect those inside.
Wayne Police later confirmed that Browning had no prior criminal record and no history of police encounters, but believe he may have been experiencing a mental health crisis.
Investigators said Browning had visited the church on three occasions over the past year and was the son of a woman who occasionally attended services, though neither were official members of the congregation.
“We are incredibly grateful for the heroic actions of the church’s staff and members,” the Wayne Police Department stated. “Their bravery undoubtedly prevented a large-scale tragedy.”
The investigation into the incident remains ongoing.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Wayne Police Department.
A fundraiser is currently underway to support Deacon Richard Pryor, whose selfless actions may have saved dozens of lives.
His truck, which was destroyed in the incident, symbolized the quick response that stopped a devastating attack.
Crime
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.