WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The person suspected of crashing a truck into a West Bloomfield synagogue before shots were fired has been killed, according to a source.
What happened
Michigan State Police said an “active shooting incident” happened early Thursday afternoon, March 12, 2026, at the Temple Israel at 5725 Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield Township, near the intersection of Walnut Lake and Drake roads.
Police sources believe a truck intentionally crashed into the building and then caught fire. The smoke at the scene is from that vehicle.
No information about possible injuries has been revealed.
Temple Israel is a Jewish synagogue that has a preschool and a large congregation. Police have asked everyone to avoid the area.
Police update
Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard and West Bloomfield police Chief Dale Young spoke at 1:35 p.m. about what happened.
“It appears at least one individual came to the temple, security saw him, engaged him in gunfire,” Bouchard said. “The scene, we’re not getting any active stimulus at the moment. We have everything here that we need, including medics and tactical gear. We’re looking to see if there’s more than one person. We’re trying to figure that out.”
Everyone is asked to shelter in place for at least a mile radius from the synagogue, Bouchard said.
There are no known injuries at this time, other than the suspect, according to police.
He said the situation is a work in progress, and that’s why they’re asking people to shelter in place. Anyone who has nothing to do with the situation is asked to stay away from the area.
Everyone has been moved out of the school, and reunification will be at the JCC, Bouchard said. Parents can go there to pick up their kids.
Police aren’t sure yet if this was a terrorist attack. They said it’s still too early in the investigation.
All Jewish facilities in the area are going to have a lot of extra presence until this situation is figured out, according to Bouchard.
Schools on lockdown
Schools in the area are on lockdown.
“We have been alerted by the West Bloomfield Police Department of a police situation in the community,” the West Bloomfield School District said in a statement.
A member of the synagogue who was not there at the time of the crash told us she believes preschool was in session Thursday.
Police response
Local 4 has confirmed officers from Plymouth, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington Hills, Michigan State Police, and several ambulances are at the synagogue.
Police are also at other places of worship in the area, they confirmed.
Aerial video
Aerial video in the aftermath of the crash showed smoke billowing out of the building from multiple locations.
People could be seen running out of the exits.
Fire trucks, police cars, and ambulances flooded the scene.
Here’s aerial footage from the scene: