GRAND BLANC – A quiet suburb is in shock after a brutal attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Four people are dead and eight are injured after a shooting and arson during Sunday services.
The assault has sparked national outrage and fresh debate over violence at places of worship. Investigators are now working through the burned structure, as confusion and unverified claims spread in the hours that followed.
The attack began shortly before 11 a.m. on 28 September. Police say Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, drove a black pickup truck with two American flags into the front entrance of the chapel on McCandlish Road.
The congregation, gathered for a routine service, was thrown into chaos. Witnesses reported rapid gunfire from an assault-style rifle. Families hid under pews, children screamed, and smoke filled the air as the attacker poured an accelerant and set parts of the building alight.
Police Briefing on Michigan Church Shooting
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye described a harrowing scene at a Sunday evening press conference. “He drove straight through the entrance like it was nothing,” Renye said. “Then he started shooting indiscriminately. Our officers arrived within minutes, engaged the suspect, and neutralized the threat.
But not before unimaginable loss.” Sanford, a Marine sergeant from 2004 to 2008 who deployed in 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom, died in a gunfight with a local officer and a Department of Natural Resources trooper. Police later found improvised explosive devices in his truck, which bomb technicians rendered safe.
The death toll rose as firefighters searched the wreckage. Two people were first confirmed dead from gunshot wounds, then two more bodies were recovered from the charred remains overnight, taking the total to four.
Eight others were injured. Seven are in stable condition, and one, a 32-year-old mother of two, is in critical condition. Several children from the church’s primary programme were hurt, including a seven-year-old girl with severe burns sustained while hiding in a classroom.
Motives Not Clear Over Shooting
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement expressing sorrow. “Our hearts ache for the families torn apart by this evil,” spokesperson Daniel Woodruff said. “We condemn this violence in the strongest terms and are praying for healing in Grand Blanc.”
The tragedy came one day after the death of the church’s 101-year-old leader, Russell M. Nelson, deepening the grief for members in Michigan and beyond.
By Monday afternoon, the FBI had taken charge of the case and classified it as “an act of targeted violence.” Reuben C. Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit office, said investigators are reviewing Sanford’s home, phone data, and social media.
No manifesto has been found, and a clear motive remains unclear. Early reporting noted Trump-Vance signs at Sanford’s home and family posts praising conservative figures, including Charlie Kirk. Friends described him as a keen hunter and outdoorsman.
A former Coca-Cola truck driver, he was married and had a young son who underwent multiple surgeries in 2015 for congenital hyperinsulinism. Neighbours in Burton said he kept to himself and rarely drew attention.
Despicable Attack on Christianity
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited the site on Monday, meeting survivors at a vigil outside Trillium Theatre. “Violence in a place of worship is an assault on our shared humanity,” she said, announcing 5 million in state funding for rebuilding and victim support.
President Donald Trump called the shooting “a despicable attack on Christianity itself,” and pledged federal help. Vice President JD Vance called the incident “awful,” and said the administration would stay fully engaged.
Amid the grief, unverified political claims spread fast online. Several media voices and Democratic commentators labelled Sanford a “MAGA supporter” within hours, ahead of confirmed evidence about his beliefs. Posts on X amplified claims of “major Charlie Kirk support,” while some connected the attack to wider talk of right-wing radicalization.
Investigators have not found links to extremist groups. Early citations of FEC records named other individuals with the same name, a mistake that outlets later corrected. By Monday, CNN and The New York Times adjusted their reports, but the early speculation left a mark on a shaken community.
This deadly assault follows other recent attacks at religious sites. It comes weeks after a shooting at a back-to-school Mass in Minneapolis that killed two children, and another church incident in Michigan this summer. The Gun Violence Archive has recorded more than 320 mass shootings in 2025.
Synagogues, gurdwaras, churches, and Latter-day Saint congregations have added security, yet experts warn that reactive steps have limits.
Vigils continue across Grand Blanc as autumn sets in. Survivors and families gathered in quiet remembrance, holding candles and sharing prayers. Paula Ramirez, who fled through a side door, said she lost two close friends.
“I teach those little ones every Sunday,” she told reporters, tears falling. “How do you explain this to God-fearing people? We just want peace.” Investigators still seek answers. The community calls for patience, care, and facts over speculation. In a time of pain, the plea is simple: put people first and tell the truth.
