WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI — A suspect was shot and killed Thursday afternoon after ramming a vehicle into a West Bloomfield synagogue, according to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard.
Bouchard said the suspect intentionally drove a vehicle through the front doors of the Temple Israel, located at 5725 Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield.
The vehicle struck one security guard and continued down a hallway where other security guards shot at him, Bouchard said.
The suspect was shot dead inside the vehicle, which also caught fire and smoke was seen billowing from the building, Bouchard said.
It was immediately unclear if the suspect was armed or had explosives inside the vehicle.
Investigators believe no one else was inside the vehicle, though they were still looking into whether anyone else was involved in the incident. They asked those within one mile of the synagogue to shelter in place.
Bouchard said no students or staff were injured in the incident.
The security guard who was struck by the vehicle was taken to a nearby hospital and expected to be OK, Bouchard said.
Signs around the property, which includes a school, warn of 24/7 surveillance and security.
Bouchard also said that it’s too early to tell if this was a terrorist attack. He did say, however, that all Jewish facilities in the area will have a stronger police presence as the investigation plays out.
There were no other injuries reported in the incident.
All children who were removed from the school will be placed at the Jewish Community Center for reunification with their parents.
Temple Israel is one of multiple synagogues across the West Bloomfield area. It includes an early childhood center and a religious school for kids in preschool through 12th grade, and calls itself the nation’s largest Reform synagogue in the U.S.
“The Michigan State Police is aware of an active shooting incident that is ongoing in West Bloomfield,” the state police said in a statement. “We are asking for community members to stay away from the area to allow for police response. Troopers are also increasing patrols at other places of worship in the district.”
In a statement, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called the incident heartbreaking, adding, “Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace.”
The attack comes one week after Bouchard and other law enforcement officials in the Detroit area said they were increasing vigilance amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
Bouchard, who is active in federal counterterrorism intelligence networks, said he “ordered that we increase our patrols and our activity around Jewish facilities and other critical infrastructure,” as intelligence communications circulated among law enforcement agencies, MLive reported.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.