GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Michigan — A gunman opened fire inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday service, killing at least four people and wounding eight others before setting the building on fire. Police shot and killed the suspect, authorities confirmed.
Hundreds of worshippers were inside the church when the attacker rammed a pickup truck through the front entrance and began shooting, according to Police Chief William Renye. He said investigators believe the suspect also “deliberately” set the church ablaze.
Officers responded within 30 seconds of a 911 call and fatally shot the gunman about eight minutes later, Renye said. Flames and smoke engulfed the building for hours before firefighters managed to contain the blaze. Two of the victims’ bodies were recovered from the debris, and authorities warned the death toll could rise as the search continued.
The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, a nearby city. Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive and are investigating whether Sanford had ties to the congregation. Police also searched his residence, though details remain limited.
The incident is the latest in a series of deadly shootings at U.S. houses of worship in recent decades. President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the attack and praised the FBI’s swift response. “PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” he wrote on social media. Local officials confirmed that the FBI was deploying 100 agents to assist in the investigation.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence, saying in a statement: “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.”
Church spokesperson Doug Anderson said leaders were coordinating with law enforcement and monitoring the conditions of the wounded. “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved,” he said.
Nearby residents and congregants expressed shock. Brad Schneemann, who lives close to the chapel, said he heard “two rounds of four to five shots” before seeing smoke pour from the building. Timothy Jones, a member of a nearby ward, described the fear among families trying to confirm the safety of loved ones. “Sundays are supposed to be a time of peace and reflection,” he said. “A shooting feels inevitable, and all the more tragic because of that.”
The attack came a day after Russell M. Nelson, president of the Utah-based church, died at age 101. His successor, under church protocol, is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks.
The Independent Commission on Infrastructure (ICI) said hearings would not be livestreamed as part of ongoing investigations into related projects but pledged to uphold transparency while protecting individual rights.
Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey said the tragedy struck the entire community. “Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very cohesive community. This sort of thing is painful for our entire community,” he said.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
- EDGARDO HERNAL
