Deacon Rams Gunman With Truck, Stops Church Massacre

Richard Pryor, a church deacon in Michigan, says he didn’t think twice before ramming his truck into an armed attacker outside his church, because there simply wasn’t time to wait for help.

Pryor’s decisive act helped prevent what could have been a mass shooting at CrossPointe Community Church in Wayne, Michigan, on June 22, according to local media sources.

Recalling the harrowing moment in a recent interview with the Associated Press, Pryor said he had to make a split-second decision to act on instinct.

“There was no time,” he said. “I didn’t have a weapon in my truck or on me, so what options do you have?”

Authorities say 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning, armed with a rifle, handgun, and wearing tactical gear, showed up in the church parking lot in what appeared to be a mental health crisis.

He reportedly began firing after exiting his vehicle, hitting one person in the leg. Pryor, who had arrived late to the service, witnessed the chaos unfold.

As Browning moved toward the church doors, where more than 100 congregants, including children leading Bible school that day, were gathered, Pryor called 911.

But as the situation escalated, he realized waiting for first responders might cost lives.

He aimed his 2018 Ford F-150 pickup directly at the shooter and hit him, all while taking multiple bullets to the vehicle.

His action stunned the attacker long enough for CrossPointe’s armed volunteer security team to intervene.

The team ultimately shot and killed Browning, preventing what many believe could have been a mass tragedy.

Browning’s mother is a member of the church but was not present that Sunday.

Pryor’s act of bravery has drawn widespread praise from law enforcement, community leaders, and media outlets nationwide.

Many have labeled him a hero, though he’s remained uneasy with the attention.

“It’s more than I anticipated, that’s for sure,” he told local news outlet WXYZ.

“Hopefully, I can go back into hiding after this … we’ll see.”

Still, he’s spoken openly about how close the church came to disaster, and how his decision made a critical difference.

“The attacker’s intended tragedy did not occur,” he said.

Livestream footage of the service captured the moment when a member of the security team entered and shouted for people to evacuate.

Panic followed as congregants carried children to safety, while others sought cover or fled the sanctuary.

Pryor reflected that, despite the traumatic nature of the attack, many attendees were spared from seeing the violence directly.

“Trauma is trauma,” he said.

“But thankfully ours is not trauma over loss of life.”

CrossPointe’s pastor, Bobby Kelly, credited Pryor with saving lives.

“He hit this individual … and that certainly helped the team to be able to respond.”

In recognition of his courageous action, the owner of Jack Demmer Ford, a dealership in Wayne,  offered Pryor a free two-year lease on a brand-new 2025 Ford F-150, valued at $70,000.

His previous truck was riddled with bullet holes during the incident.

Matthew Demmer, the dealership’s owner, said giving Pryor the truck was the least they could do.

“It could have been a heck of a lot worse,” Demmer said.

“This was the best way we knew how to give back.”

At the handover ceremony on July 10, Pryor expressed his appreciation.

“Very grateful, very thankful,” he said while receiving the keys.

Still, Demmer noted that Pryor appeared reluctant to accept the reward, maintaining a modest and almost “standoffish” demeanor, insisting he didn’t deserve it.

Despite his humility, Pryor’s swift, selfless action is being remembered as a decisive moment of courage that averted what could have been one of the year’s deadliest church shootings.

For him, though, it was just a matter of doing what had to be done.

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