After Preventing a Mass Shooting with His Truck, He Received a Surprise from a Dealer | Carscoops

      The shooter was apprehended while armed with a long gun and a handgun

      15 hours ago

      by Brad Anderson

      Deacon Richard Pryor found himself without a car after colliding with the potential shooter.

      Demmer Ford expressed gratitude to the hero by presenting him with the keys to a blacked-out F-150.

      A security guard at the church fatally shot the 31-year-old assailant just before he entered the church.

      In a move that potentially averted a tragedy at a Michigan church, quick-thinking deacon Richard Pryor received widespread appreciation from his community. On June 22, while en route to a service at Crosspointe Community Church in Wayne, he noticed something concerning: a man in tactical gear approaching the building with weapons.

      Pryor took immediate action, using his pickup truck to hit the man and thwarting his access to the church. Now, a local car dealership has presented the deacon with a brand-new vehicle.

      If not for the deacon's swift actions, the situation could have resulted in a mass shooting. At the time, the church was filled with people, and police reported that 31-year-old Brian Anthony Browning had exited his Nissan pickup carrying both a long gun and a handgun as he approached the church.

      A Terrifying Incident Outside a Crowded Church

      Although Browning had no criminal record, his mother attended the church, and he had been known to attend two or three services in the past year. Browning fired shots at Pryor’s Ford F-150, but the deacon did not waver. He drove directly into the assailant, which allowed a church security team member to step in and fatally shoot Browning.

      Last week, Demmer Ford showed their gratitude by gifting Pryor a blacked-out F-150 in acknowledgment of his bravery. During a press conference at the vehicle handover, Pryor recalled that he was on the phone with 911 when he first spotted Browning approaching.

      In that moment, he stated, “I realized there was no time” and promptly acted to ensure the safety of those inside. “I believe that’s where the Lord comes into play because it wasn’t my own action in that sense. I wasn’t really thinking in that way,” he remarked.

      “I’m incredibly thankful for everyone’s support and all those who reached out after the events that Sunday,” he continued. “Everything that happened afterward was unexpected, but I’m deeply grateful.”

      The incident left Pryor without a vehicle for a couple of weeks until the dealership intervened, according to ABC. During the handover, Matt Demmer from Demmer Ford expressed gratitude to the deacon for his courageous actions.

      “As a member of the community, we thought about what we could do to help and ensure that Richard had something to drive immediately,” he explained. “Then we thought, how can we do even more?”