Michigan Church Closed Tuesday After Threat List Found

Michigan Church Closed Tuesday After Threat List Found

A church in Michigan was closed Tuesday after its inclusion on a threat list that included multiple houses of worship.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • Nov 17, 2017

A church in Michigan was closed Tuesday after its inclusion on a threat list that included multiple houses of worship.

The list was discovered Monday by a man who saw a suspicious package in his Dearborn Heights backyard. The toiletries bag contained a unloaded handgun and a map with multiple addresses circled and the word “target” written on it. Three of the addresses were houses of worship, including Westminster Presbyterian Church and the Masjid Bilal.

"Somebody put this stuff into a bag to create the impression that a threat exists," said Grand Rapids Police Lt. Pat Merrill. "Now the question is how valid is it and we're gonna work that."

The police informed Westminster Presbyterian that it was in no immediate danger, but it still cancelled some services and closed the Westminster Child Development Center, Downtown Food Pantry, Open Door Ministry and offices for the day. In a Facebook post, the church said, "We are always mindful of a balance between hospitality and security.” It added, "We are steadfast in our commitment to creating a hospitable and gracious environment for our city and neighbors, while doing everything we can to ensure the safety of our staff and daycare families."

Police were on patrol Tuesday night at the Masjid Bilal to help attendees feel safer. The mosque holds prayer services every night, and those gathering Tuesday said they welcomed the extra police presence after learning the mosque was on the threat list.

The FBI and several police agencies investigating the list have no information yet on the gun’s owner or whether there are any suspects. A statewide investigation is ongoing.

The threat list comes less than 14 days after the Sutherland Springs church shooting, which left 26 dead and at least 20 injured.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Report: 47 Percent of Security Service Providers Are Not Yet Using AI or Automation Tools

    Trackforce, a provider of security workforce management platforms, today announced the launch of its 2025 Physical Security Operations Benchmark Report, an industry-first study that benchmarks both private security service providers and corporate security teams side by side. Based on a survey of over 300 security professionals across the globe, the report provides a comprehensive look at the state of physical security operations. Read Now

    • Guard Services

  • Identity Governance at the Crossroads of Complexity and Scale

    Modern enterprises are grappling with an increasing number of identities, both human and machine, across an ever-growing number of systems. They must also deal with increased operational demands, including faster onboarding, more scalable models, and tighter security enforcement. Navigating these ever-growing challenges with speed and accuracy requires a new approach to identity governance that is built for the future enterprise. Read Now

  • Eagle Eye Networks Launches AI Camera Gun Detection

    Eagle Eye Networks, a provider of cloud video surveillance, recently introduced Eagle Eye Gun Detection, a new layer of protection for schools and businesses that works with existing security cameras and infrastructure. Eagle Eye Networks is the first to build gun detection into its platform. Read Now

  • Report: AI is Supercharging Old-School Cybercriminal Tactics

    AI isn’t just transforming how we work. It’s reshaping how cybercriminals attack, with threat actors exploiting AI to mass produce malicious code loaders, steal browser credentials and accelerate cloud attacks, according to a new report from Elastic. Read Now

  • Pragmatism, Productivity, and the Push for Accountability in 2025-2026

    Every year, the security industry debates whether artificial intelligence is a disruption, an enabler, or a distraction. By 2025, that conversation matured, where AI became a working dimension in physical identity and access management (PIAM) programs. Observations from 2025 highlight this turning point in AI’s role in access control and define how security leaders are being distinguished based on how they apply it. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.