A devastating shooting and arson attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, left four people dead and eight injured, authorities reported. The incident occurred during a Sunday service attended by hundreds, when 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford from Burton, Michigan, drove a vehicle into the building at approximately 10:25 AM local time (15:25 GMT), opened fire with an assault-style rifle, and set the structure ablaze using an accelerant, likely gasoline.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed two victims died from gunshot wounds, with two more found dead amid extensive fire damage, and some individuals still unaccounted for as the church was cleared Sunday night. Sanford, a Marine Corps veteran, was shot dead by police in the parking lot at 10:33 AM, eight minutes after the attack began. The FBI, led by Acting Special Agent Reuben Coleman, is investigating it as “targeted violence,” with no clear motive yet, while searching Sanford’s property and cellphone records.
The churchgoers’ heroism in sheltering children was praised by Renye, as the building suffered significant damage. Additional bomb threats at other locations were cleared by Michigan State Police. President Donald Trump called it a “targeted attack on Christians,” while Attorney General Pam Bondi and Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence, with the latter noting its unacceptability in a place of worship. The Church and prominent Mormon Mitt Romney expressed prayers for healing, as 100 FBI agents assist in the probe, highlighting a nation grappling with this tragic escalation.
