WEST BLOOMFIELD, Mich. – Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard spoke to the public Thursday afternoon after a truck was intentionally driven into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
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The attack happened early Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Temple Israel, near the intersection of Walnut Lake and Drake roads. The temple has a preschool program and a large congregation, but no children or school staff were injured.
According to Bouchard, the vehicle breached the facility by driving through doors and down a hallway inside the building.
Bouchard said the vehicle breached the facility by driving through the doors and down a hallway. After it crashed into the building, the truck caught fire, causing smoke to billow from several locations, including the roof and doorways.
Authorities said security personnel exchanged gunfire with the suspect after the vehicle entered the building. Officials would not confirm whether gunfire, the vehicle fire or another cause led to the death of the person in the truck.
“The suspect was engaged,” Bouchard said. “This is the clearest sentence I can give.”
Officials said no children or staff were injured and that families were being reunited with children who had been at the facility. A security officer who was struck by the vehicle was taken to a hospital and is expected to be OK.
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Bouchard credited training and the quick actions of first responders that helped prevent a worse outcome.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene, including ATF and the FBI, and bomb technicians and explosive-detection dogs were deployed as authorities swept the building and vehicles for threats.
Authorities said there was no specific prior threat chatter tied to a particular institution, but facilities have been on alert and patrols have increased in recent weeks.
Authorities have not determined whether the attack was an act of terrorism. Extra security measures are being implemented at houses of worship in the area.