Police Respond to Active Shooter Incident at Major Michigan Synagogue

After what Mid-Michigan recently dealt with at a Grand Blanc Township church, something deeply unsettling is unfolding right now in Oakland County, and it’s the kind of situation that immediately makes your stomach drop. Authorities are responding to what the FBI is describing as an apparent vehicle ramming and active shooter situation at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township. As you can imagine, that alone is sending shockwaves through the community.

Active Shooter Situation Reported at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield

According to early information from investigators, a suspect drove a vehicle toward the temple and gunfire was reported shortly after. Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard says a member of security at the temple engaged the suspect in gunfire.

READ MORE: Grand Blanc Church Shooting Leaves 5 Dead, 8 Hurt in Attack  

Right now, that person is not in custody, and investigators believe the suspect may have been injured during the exchange. Police say the situation is still very much a work in progress.

Shelter-In-Place Ordered as Security at the Synagogue Engage Suspect in Gunfire

The property itself is large, and authorities are working to determine exactly what happened and whether anyone else might have been involved. Because of that uncertainty, there is still a shelter-in-place order within about a mile of the synagogue while law enforcement searches the area.

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The FBI, along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are now on scene assisting local police. There is at least one piece of news that everyone is clinging to right now.

Children Safely Evacuated From Temple Preschool

So far, no injuries have been confirmed. That includes children at the synagogue’s preschool, who were quickly moved out of the area by first responders as the situation unfolded.

READ MORE: Security Tightens Nationwide After Mid-Michigan Church Shooting

Temple Israel is not a small congregation. In fact, it’s believed to be the largest Reform synagogue in the country, with around 12,000 members across roughly 3,500 families. For a lot of people in that community, this place is not just a place of worship. It is where their kids go to school, where families gather, and where people feel safe.

READ MORE: Gunshot Confirmed in Victim of Fenton Township House Fire 

And that is part of what makes something like this so difficult to process. One synagogue member who was standing outside the police perimeter told a local TV station she was terrified for friends who were still inside.

Nearby Schools Placed in Secure Mode

She said she was even afraid to call them on their phones, worried that the sound of a ringtone could somehow make the situation worse. Her words were simple, but they say a lot:

“This is senseless. We have to be better than this.”

Police Ask The Public To Stay Away From The Active Scene

Police are asking people to stay away from the area so first responders can do their jobs safely. Schools in nearby Bloomfield Hills have also been placed in secure mode as a precaution, although officials say there are no direct threats to those schools at this time.

Right now, investigators are still trying to piece together exactly what happened, who the suspect is, and whether anyone else may have been involved. NBC News is sending out live updates as more information becomes available, and Fox 2 Detroit is live now with continuing coverage.

UPDATE: Just before 3 P.M., authorities are reporting that the suspect is dead.