At least four people have been killed and eight others injured after a gunman launched a violent attack on a Michigan church during Sunday service. Authorities say the incident unfolded at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, about 60 miles northwest of Detroit.
According to police, the suspect identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan drove his vehicle into the church at around 10:25 a.m. local time, before opening fire with an assault-style rifle. Sanford also used an accelerant, believed to be gasoline, to set the building ablaze.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed that two victims died from gunshot wounds, while two more were later discovered dead as officials continued clearing the extensively damaged church. Several individuals remain unaccounted for.
Sanford was fatally shot by police officers in the church parking lot at 10:33 a.m., just eight minutes after the attack began. Chief Renye praised the quick actions of both officers and worshippers, noting that churchgoers sheltered children as chaos unfolded.
The FBI has taken charge of the investigation, deploying more than 100 agents, crisis response teams, and bomb technicians. Authorities have also responded to multiple bomb threats in the area, though all have since been cleared. Investigators are searching Sanford’s property and examining his phone records to determine a motive.
Sanford, a Marine Corps veteran, has no publicly known connection to the church. Officials are treating the tragedy as an “act of targeted violence,” though his motives remain unclear.
Political and religious leaders swiftly condemned the attack. President Donald Trump described it as “yet another targeted attack on Christians,” while Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called violence in places of worship “unacceptable.” Former Senator Mitt Romney, a prominent Mormon leader, called the shooting a “tragedy” and offered prayers for victims.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed sorrow in a statement, saying: “We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
