A shooting suspect accused of crashing into a Jewish synagogue is now dead in Michigan, according to authorities and news reports.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office reported law enforcement responded to an “active shooter” at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield the afternoon of Tuesday, March 12, when a suspect “entered” the building with a vehicle.
Oakland County Sheriff gunshots were exchanged told members of the press that synagogue security guards “engaged in gunfire” with the suspect, the Detroit Free Press reported.
A school is also located at the building, where children were safely led outside as a result of the attack, authorities said, the newspaper reported.
“No kids or no staff were injured whatsoever,” Bouchard said, according to the Associated Press.
One security guard was injured after they were struck by the suspect’s car, according to Bouchard. Their injuries were non-life threatening, the Associated Press reported.
After the suspect drove into the building, flames erupted from their vehicle when “something ignited,” Bouchard told reporters, according to NBC News. Bomb technicians were on the scene to search for the presence of explosives.
Other local synagogues initiated lockdowns following the attack at Temple Israel, according to officials, NBC News reported. The lockdowns have reportedly ended.
“We stand with the congregation of Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and the broader Detroit Jewish community,” the American Jewish Committee said in a statement shared to Facebook on March 12.
“We are grateful to the law enforcement officers and first responders who are on the scene, working to protect and support everyone in the area.”
“We have received word that while there is still a large security presence at Temple Israel, all other Jewish organizations are no longer required to be in lockdown or lockout protocol,” the Jewish Federation of Detroit said in a March 12 statement shared to Facebook. “There will continue to be a strong police and security presence throughout the community.”
In a statement, FBI Director Kash Patel said that “FBI personnel are on the scene with partners in Michigan and responding to the apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation out of Temple Israel Synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan.”
Meanwhile, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she is monitoring the situation.
“This is heartbreaking. Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace,” she said in a statement Thursday. “Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan. I am hoping for everyone’s safety.”
In a statement, Temple Israel said that “everyone is safe. All 140 students in our Susan and Harold Loss Early Childhood Center, our amazing staff, our courageous teachers, and our heroic security personnel are all accounted for and safe.”
The statement said the Temple “was the victim of a terrorist gunman who was confronted and neutralized by our security personnel who are truly heroes. Our teachers followed their training and kept the children safe and calm.”
The Temple said it soon would update all parents about the future of its programming. Temple Israel claims to be the “largest Reform synagogue” in the United States.
According to its website, Temple Israel was organized in 60 days back in 1941, just before the start of World War II. Within its first two months, founder Rabbi Leon Fram had a congregation of approximately 600 members.
Today, the congregation’s grown to 3,500 families — or more than 12,000 individual members.
It was unclear if Rabbis Harold Loss, Paul Yedwab, Josh Bennett, Marla Hornsten, Jennifer Kaluzny, Jennifer Lader, Arianna Gordon and Cantor Neil Michaels were in the synagogue at the time of the attack.
A potential motive for the synagogue attack was not immediately specified by law enforcement.
Authorities have not said whether they are handling the investigation as a hate crime.
