A motive remains under investigation inThursday's attackon a Detroit-area synagogue, the FBI said Friday, as a fuller timeline of the incident emerged.
The suspect -- identified as 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali -- died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during an exchange of gunfire with security guards, an FBI official said Friday.
Ghazali sat in his vehicle alone in the parking lot of Temple Israel for over two hours Thursday morning before driving his truck into the building at approximately 12:19 p.m., striking a security guard on his way in, according to Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office.
With his vehicle jammed in a hallway, Ghazali opened fire on the security guard, who returned fire, Runyan said during a briefing on Friday.
"At this point, Ghazali is unable to extract himself due to the vehicle being jammed in the hallway," Runyan said. "At approximately 12:22 p.m., a second security officer engages Ghazali in a gunfight from the front of the vehicle, and soon thereafter, Ghazali's vehicle, his engine compartment, catches on fire."
At some point during the gunfight, the suspect suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in the bed of the truck, Runyan said, citing the medical examiner's findings.
"We found large quantities of commercial-grade fireworks and several jugs of flammable liquid we believe to be gasoline, some of which has been consumed in the fire," Runyan said.
Runyan said the suspect had no previous criminal history, no registered weapons and had never been the subject of an FBI investigation.
There is no indication that the attack was connected to adeadly shootingat Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday, which the FBI said it is treating as an "act of terrorism."
There are no known threats to the community, Runyan said.
She reiterated that the FBI is investigating the incident as a "targeted act of violence" against the Jewish community but that the motive remains under investigation.
"At this time, our team has been working around the clock to ensure that we remain focused on providing confirmed facts about this investigation rather than uncorroborated speculation," she said.
Two days before the attack, Ghazali bought over $2,200 worth of fireworks from a Phantom Fireworks store in Livonia, Michigan, according to the company.
In surveillance footage from the company, a man who appeared to be Ghazali is seen making two purchases of fireworks in short succession on Tuesday afternoon, according to the company.
The company said he bought firecrackers, "aerial repeaters" and a "fountain product" totaling $2,250.96.
Phantom Fireworks Executive Vice President Alan Zoldan told ABC News that an employee recalled Ghazali said he was making the large purchase ahead of a celebration of Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan.
Truck ramming at synagogue being investigated as targeted act of violence against Jewish community: FBI
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Dearborn Heights Mayor Mo Baydoun said the suspect, who lived in his city, had "lost several members of his own family ... in an Israeli attack on their home in Lebanon."
Baydoun joined other leaders in condemning the attack, which took place as children were inside the temple.
"This tragedy comes at a time when communities everywhere are confronting rising hate and senseless violence. No matter where violence occurs, whether in West Bloomfield or anywhere around in the world, harm against innocent people is something we must all stand firmly against," he said.
"The tensions we see across the world too often find their way into our own neighborhoods, reminding us how deeply connected our shared safety is," the mayor added.
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No staff or students inside the synagogue were hurt, and the synagogue noted that all 140 students as well as staff, teachers and security all returned home, Whitmer told reporters Friday morning.
The sheriff's office said one synagogue security guard was hit by the suspect's truck in the incident and was "knocked unconscious" but was expected to be okay.
Rabbi Arianna Gordon, the director of education and lifelong learning at Temple Israel, praised the work of the synagogue's teachers and staff for their quick work in keeping the students safe and reuniting them with their parents.
"They were the real superstars of the day, in addition to local law enforcement and our amazing Temple Israel security team," she said during an interview on ABC News Live. "They kept all of those kids safe and calm. They got them out of the building quickly when they were allowed to get them out, and really were the ones who enabled us to reunite students and families together."
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Friday called on people to "lower the temperature" and call out antisemitism following the attack, which she said "could have looked a lot more like Sandy Hook" had it not been for security.
Whitmer said she was angry at the situation and said the Jewish community has been on heightened alert because of the rise in antisemitic attacks, threats and rhetoric since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The Anti-Defamation League found that there were 9,354 antisemitic incidents across the United States in 2024, a 344% increase over the past five years.
"People like the person who attacked this community yesterday get fulminated by rhetoric that they see online and they see on television and hear on the radio. It radicalizes them," Whitmer said.
Synagogues and other Jewish centers across the country increased their security following the attack in Michigan, according to several police departments including the NYPD.
"Out of an abundance of caution, and given the overall heightened threat environment, we're continuing to deploy high-visibility patrols to Jewish religious and cultural institutions in the city," the NYPD said in a statement.
The governor reiterated that there were children under a year old inside the synagogue during the incident.
"My friend Brian said this could have looked a lot more like Sandy Hook. Let's not lose sight of that," Whitmer said.
"This is not a political debate, this is targeting babies who are Jewish. This is antisemitism at its absolute worst," she added.
Editor's Note:An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the suspect was killed by security guards. The FBI said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a gun battle with security guards.
