Crosse Point Community

Church Members's Self-Defense Story

Discover how the USCCA support to CrossPointe Church Security team members, helping them respond to a serious threat.

Location: Michigan
Charges: No Charges Filed
Not Guilty: Innocent congregation saved
Confidential: Legal fees covered

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One minute, families were settling in for Sunday worship.

The next, someone ran into the sanctuary with a warning:

"There's a shooter."

Outside CrossPointe Community Church in Michigan, an armed man was approaching the entrance.

Inside were ordinary people who had spent years preparing for something they hoped would never happen.

The first warning came from Richard, a church deacon who happened to be running late. Richard saw a man drive onto church property erratically, get out, and begin putting on tactical gear. He watched him pick up an AR-style rifle and start toward the church.

Richard tried talking to him.

When the armed man continued toward the entrance, Richard got back into his Ford pickup, accelerated across the grass, and struck him.

The impact knocked the gunman down … but he got back up and opened fire on Richard's truck.

Inside, the sound of gunfire changed everything. "You can go from singing and worshiping to disaster, chaos ... quickly."

Members of CrossPointe's security team moved toward the threat.

Gunfire tore through the church's glass entrance as the security team engaged the attacker. Ron, another security team member, was shot in the leg during the exchange … but the team kept responding.

A third security team member, Jay, was among those who engaged the gunman.

Eventually, the attacker went down.

One of the security team members moved forward, removed the attacker's rifle and handgun from his reach, and the team covered him until law enforcement arrived.

At the same time, others were evacuating the sanctuary, calling 911 and relaying information.

Everyone had a role.

The security team hadn't known when their training would matter. But they had prepared for this exact kind of threat…

Three members of CrossPointe's security team completed USCCA training focused on protecting houses of worship just days before the attack.

That training built on years the team had already spent preparing together to defend their congregation.

Then came the Sunday when that preparation was put to the test.

"This day was put forward many years ago ... for us to be here to defend our house of worship."

Not everyone confronted the attacker. Some sounded the warning. Some called 911. Some helped people escape. Others moved toward the threat. That's the lesson the team wants other churches to understand.

Preparation doesn't start when the shooting does.

It starts long before anyone knows they'll need it.

"We need just people to step up in whatever they feel that their abilities allow them to do."

When an ordinary Sunday at CrossPointe turned into chaos, ordinary people were ready.

Surviving an attack is only half the battle.

The legal fight that follows can be just as devastating to your freedom, family, and finances.

Attorney retainer:

$25k–$100k+

Expert witnesses:

$5k–$15k

(each)

Trial & bail costs:

$100k–$500k+

JOIN 860,400+ MEMBERS

When you take advantage of the education, training, and self-defense liability insurance¹ you get with your USCCA^® Membership, you'll be ready for the before, during, AND after of a deadly encounter.

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