BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – A man armed with a pellet gun was arrested Thursday outside of the Jewish Federation of Detroit’s building in Bloomfield Township in an incident that the organization says was not antisemitic.
Bloomfield Township police arrested a man with a pellet gun who was in the parking lot of the Max M. Fisher Federation Building at around 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2. The building went into lockdown due to the man’s presence, though it’s unclear exactly what time that occurred.
In a statement, the federation said it was believed the man was experiencing a mental health crisis. The federation also reported that a police interview found “this was not an act of antisemitism.”
According to an update provided Thursday afternoon by police, the man was armed with a pellet gun and not a real gun. Several people called 911 reporting that a man with a gun was seen outside the building.
The arrested man, whose identity has not yet been released, reportedly attempted to enter the building, but was turned away since he did not have a badge to enter. He then said he would get his badge from his car, went to his car, and obtained the pellet gun, officials said.
The building went into lockdown at some point, and was reportedly successfully secured. No one was hurt in the incident.
Police confirmed that the incident was not a hate crime, but rather related to mental health issues.
“We greatly appreciate the swift response of the Bloomfield Township Police, and especially the work of our Jewish Community Security Inc. staff,” the federation said.