Grand Blanc Township, Michigan — A peaceful Sunday morning service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned into a scene of unimaginable horror when a gunman rammed his pickup truck through the front doors, unleashed a hail of gunfire, and deliberately set the building ablaze. At least four worshippers were killed, eight others injured, and as of Monday morning, up to seven people remain unaccounted for amid ongoing searches of the charred ruins.
The attack unfolded around 10:25 a.m. on September 28, 2025, at the chapel on McCandlish Road, drawing hundreds of congregants for worship. The suspect, identified by authorities as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of nearby Burton, Michigan, drove his Chevrolet Silverado — adorned with two American flags in the bed — directly into the entrance. He then exited the vehicle and fired multiple rounds from an assault-style rifle at those inside, striking at least eight victims, one of whom remains in critical condition while the others are stable.
Sanford, a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 2004 to 2008 as an organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, rising to the rank of sergeant during his deployment to Iraq in 2007-2008, escalated the chaos by dousing the interior with gasoline and igniting it. The blaze quickly grew into a five-alarm fire, engulfing the structure and forcing terrified parishioners to flee or shelter in place. Witnesses described acts of heroism, with congregants shielding children as flames and smoke filled the air.
Responding officers from the Grand Blanc Township Police Department and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources arrived within seconds of the initial 911 call. They confronted Sanford in the church parking lot, where an exchange of gunfire left him dead at 10:33 a.m. — just eight minutes after the attack began. "The officers engaged in gunfire with that particular individual, neutralizing that suspect," Police Chief William Renye said during a press conference.
Firefighters battled the inferno for hours, extinguishing it between noon and 1 p.m. Initial reports confirmed two deaths from gunshot wounds, but the toll rose to four late Sunday after two more bodies were recovered from the debris. As of early Monday, September 29, authorities reported a total of five fatalities including Sanford, with the possibility of more victims yet to be located in the unstable wreckage. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is investigating the arson, confirming the use of an accelerant and the discovery of several suspected improvised explosive devices at the scene, though it's unclear if they were deployed.
The FBI has deployed over 100 agents to assist local law enforcement, interviewing witnesses and classifying the incident as an "act of targeted violence." Bomb squad robots were used to search Sanford's home, located about 15 minutes from the church, for evidence including his cell phone records. No motive has been established, and investigators believe Sanford acted alone with no additional suspects. Early social media analysis of Sanford's profiles revealed him as an outdoorsman and apparent supporter of conservative figures, including photos in MAGA attire and praise for commentator Charlie Kirk, though these details remain unconfirmed in relation to the attack. Sanford, who also went by "Jake," graduated from a local high school in 2004 and married his high school sweetheart in 2016; the couple had a 10-year-old son. Classmates and neighbors expressed shock, describing him as unassuming and family-oriented. His father, also named Thomas Sanford, briefly declined to comment but had previously spoken proudly of his son's military service in local profiles.
President Donald Trump, briefed on the incident, posted on Truth Social: "This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!" The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued a statement calling it a "tragic act of violence," extending prayers to the victims' families. Local schools were canceled Monday as the community grapples with the aftermath, with counseling services mobilized.
This marks the second mass shooting in less than 24 hours allegedly linked to an Iraq War veteran, raising fresh concerns about mental health support for former service members. The investigation continues, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward. Grand Blanc, a quiet suburb 60 miles northwest of Detroit, is left mourning as first responders sift through the ashes for answers and closure.
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