OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich. – The FBI confirmed that the man accused of attacking a West Bloomfield temple died after shooting himself in the head.
The suspect, identified by authorities as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, reportedly drove a truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township on March 12. After an exchange of gunfire with the temple’s security, he died at the scene. One security officer was taken to a hospital after being struck by the truck.
No children or staff were injured. The FBI is leading the investigation and is considering the case as a targeted act of violence.
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Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office confirmed at a March 13 news conference that Ghazali shot himself in the head after exchanging fire with security officers.
Runyan said Ghazali’s truck bed contained large quantities of fireworks and jugs of flammable liquid believed to be gasoline.
She added the agency would not speculate publicly on a motive while the investigation remains active.
Anyone with photos or videos of the attack is urged to submit them through the FBI digital tip channel or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
Tips can be made through the FBI website here.
Timeline of events released by the FBI:
- 9:58 a.m. -- Ghazali drove a gray Ford F-150 into the Temple Israel parking lot
- 10 a.m.-12:15 p.m. -- The vehicle remained parked and Ghazali was not seen interacting with people or other vehicles.
- 12:15 p.m. -- Ghazali started driving through the parking lot.
- 12:19 p.m. -- The truck drove into Door 5 at the southeast corner, hitting a security guard on entry.
- 12:20 p.m. -- The vehicle became jammed in a hallway; Ghazali fires a gun through the windshield.
- Shortly after 12:20 p.m. -- A security officer engaged Ghazali through the rear window as the truck remained stuck and caught fire.
- 12:22 p.m. -- A second security officer engaged from the front of the vehicle. During the exchange, Ghazali reportedly shot himself in the head.