GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A deadly attack unfolded on Sunday morning at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) service in Michigan, leaving at least **four people dead** and **eight others injured**, according to Grand Blanc Township police.

The incident, which the FBI is treating as an act of “targeted violence,” involved a gunman who rammed a vehicle into the church, opened fire on the hundreds of worshippers gathered inside, and deliberately set the building on fire before being killed in a shootout with responding officers.

The tragedy has shocked the community located approximately 60 miles northwest of Detroit, prompting an immediate investigation led by the FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement.

Attack Details: Vehicle Ramming, Assault Rifle, and Arson

Authorities identified the suspect as **Thomas Jacob Sanford**, a 40-year-old former U.S. Marine from nearby Burton, Michigan. Officials confirmed the attack followed a highly destructive pattern:

• Initial Breach: Sanford rammed his vehicle, described as a pickup truck, through the front doors of the church around 10:25 a.m. local time.
• Shooting: He exited the vehicle and opened fire with what police described as an assault rifle on the congregation.
• Arson and Explosives: Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed that the suspect used an accelerant, believed to be gasoline, to set a massive fire that engulfed the church. Authorities also located **three suspected improvised explosive devices (IEDs)** inside Sanford’s vehicle.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye commended the two responding officers—one from the township and one from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources—who arrived at the scene in less than a minute and “neutralized” the suspect in the church’s parking lot within eight minutes of the initial 911 call. Police believe the threat to the public has been eliminated.

Casualty Update and Search for Victims

The confirmed death toll stands at four, excluding the gunman. Two additional bodies were recovered from inside the severely burned church following the fire’s containment, adding to an earlier count of two. Of the eight individuals hospitalized:

• One victim remains in critical condition.
• Seven victims are reported to be in stable condition.

Police Chief Renye cautioned that the final number of victims remains uncertain, as there are still worshippers unaccounted for within the fire-damaged structure, which is being called a total loss.

Suspect Identity and Motive Investigation

While law enforcement has identified the shooter as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a clear motive remains undetermined. Investigators are executing search warrants on Sanford’s residence and combing through cellphone and digital records to establish why he targeted this specific place of worship.

The FBI has classified the incident as an act of “targeted violence,” and President Donald Trump commented on Truth Social, stating that the incident “appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.”

Official and Community Reaction

The tragedy prompted swift responses from public and religious leaders across the country:

• Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating her “heart is breaking” for the Grand Blanc community and adding that “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.”
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesperson Doug Andersen called the incident a “tragic act of violence.” In a statement, Andersen said, “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

The attack occurred on a day of mourning for the church’s community, as it followed the death of the LDS Church’s oldest-ever president, Russell M. Nelson, the previous night.