Synagogue leaders from Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, which was the target of a shooting, as well as Jewish leaders from the metro Detroit area, expressed their gratitude for both the quick response of law enforcement to the shooting and the immediate reaction of the the early childhood education teachers inside the synagogue at the time.
“We are just absolutely amazed at the heroism of our security team who did exactly what we expected of them,” said Rabbi Josh Bennett of Temple Israel. “All of our staff members, all of our teachers, have been trained over the years because we expect these things to happen. We just never want them to be real. But today, everybody acted with a sense of purpose and did exactly what was needed in the moment. And because of that, we are standing here today safe.”
He added that the response meant that the children who were inside the synagogue at the time were not aware of the crisis as it was unfolding.
“Because of the work of our security team and because of the work of our staff, our children just thought an alarm had gone off and they were playing with their family and friends,” he said. “When you are trained as a community, this is what happens.”
Law enforcement and emergency vehicles surround the area around Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Mich. following a shooting at the synagogue. March 12, 2026. | (Photo by Katherine Dailey/Michigan Advance.)
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard told reporters earlier in the day that over the last two weeks, since the United States and Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, he has increased his communication and preparedness level in communication with faith leaders.
“We’re always more prepared based on what’s going on in the world,” Bouchard said, emphasizing that motives would not be known until the investigation had been completed. “Obviously that’s the first thing that comes to everybody’s mind.”
The relationship between local and county law enforcement and the security team at Temple Israel has been longstanding, and Bouchard told reporters that was helpful in executing a quick response from both temple security and police.
“The time to get that relationship going is not during a crisis, it was well in place long before this happened,” he said.
Rabbi Arianna Gordon, Temple Israel’s Director of Education, also thanked the quick response of the temple staff and the law enforcement in ensuring both physical safety and emotional guarding of the students present.
“I do want to say a huge thank you to our law enforcement, to our Temple Israel security team and our early childhood center teachers, who were the true rock stars of the day,” Gordon said. “They ensured that all of our children remained safe and calm throughout the entire day, and got every single child safely reunited with their parents this afternoon. And for that, I can’t express my gratitude enough.”
“It was a really, incredibly scary afternoon with all those unknowns, but the kids were calm and singing ‘Wheels on the Bus’ and being snuggled by their teachers and really, so well cared for,” she told reporters after the press conference. “They were all sheltered and safe throughout the entire afternoon.”
“Every single person walked out of that building due to the heroic efforts of our team and our teachers, that is what everybody’s feeling, just absolutely, overwhelmingly grateful,” added Rabbi Jen Lader.
Temple Israel’s early childhood education program serves around 175 children up to pre-K age, and about 105 were present at the time of the shooting.
“This is a tough time. It’s a tough time, but we will get through this. We’ll get through this together,” Steven Ingber, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Detroit, said. “We’ll get through this stronger, and we’ll continue to be loud and proud of being Jewish. This will not change us. This will not deter us.”
West Bloomfield Police Chief Dale Young said in the press conference that the first 911 call was received at 12:19 p.m. and that officers were on the scene in under five minutes.
“Temple security officers engaged the individual and neutralized the threat,” Young said. The FBI, who are the lead agency in investigating the incident going forward, were notified of the incident at 12:45 p.m., according to Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge at the FBI Detroit field office.
Families leave the area around Temple Israel in West Bloomfield after a shooting at the synagogue. March 12, 2026. | (Photo by Katherine Dailey/Michigan Advance.)
No children or staff were hurt during the attack, and the only fatality was the shooter, Runyan confirmed. No further details about the identity of the suspect or any suspected motivations behind it were shared.
30 law enforcement officers were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and some were still receiving treatment as of the time of the press conference, Bouchard said, along with the temple’s head of security, who was injured when a car hit the temple. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is taking the lead on determining the origin of the fire that “engulfed” the synagogue in smoke, he added.
The impact on the Jewish community in West Bloomfield, metro Detroit and across Michigan was emphasized by community leaders throughout the evening.
“In the Jewish community, we know we are always a target, and we pray that we will never be the one,” Gordon said. “And I think we’re all really processing the fact that it was Temple Israel today, and it was our Detroit community.”
Bennett added that Temple Israel will not be able to host services in the synagogue, as it is currently an active investigation, but have received a number of offers of synagogues and other spaces to hold services in the upcoming weeks.
