Gunman opens fire at Michigan church and sets it ablaze, killing at
least 4 and wounding 8
[September 29, 2025]
By ISABELLA VOLMERT and COREY WILLIAMS
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — An ex-Marine smashed a pickup into a
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Michigan, opened
fire and set the building ablaze during a crowded Sunday service and
then was fatally shot by police. At least four people were killed and
eight wounded, and authorities were searching the building ruins for
more victims.
The attack occurred about 10:25 a.m. while hundreds of people were in
the building in Grand Blanc Township, outside Flint.
The man got out of the pickup with two American flags raised in the
truck bed and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told
reporters. The attacker apparently used gas to start the fire and also
had explosive devices but it wasn’t clear if he used them, said James
Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Authorities identified the shooter as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of the
neighboring small town of Burton. The FBI is leading the investigation
and considered it an “act of targeted violence,” said Ruben Coleman, a
special agent in charge for the bureau.
Officers responding to a 911 call were at the church within 30 seconds,
Renye said. After the suspect left the church, two officers pursued him
and “engaged in gunfire,” killing him about eight minutes later, the
chief said.
People inside the church shielded children and moved them to safety
during the attack, Renye said.
Flames and smoke poured from the large church for hours before the blaze
was extinguished.
Two bodies were found during a search of the debris, and Renye said more
victims could be found as searchers made their way though the entire
church. One of the wounded people was in critical condition Sunday
evening and the seven others were stable.
Renye said “some” people were unaccounted for, but he didn’t have an
exact number.
Michigan State Police Lt. Kim Vetter said bomb threats were made at
other churches in the area after officers shot and killed Sanford. No
bombs were found and police were investigating the threats.
The motive not yet clear
Investigators were searching Sanford’s residence but authorities did not
say what they found or provide any additional details about him,
including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.
Sanford served in the Marines from June 2004 through June 2008, working
as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to
military records obtained by The Detroit News. He was deployed to Iraq
from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant.
It was the latest of many shooting attacks on houses of worship in the
U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two
children during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.
It also was the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than 24 hours.
On Saturday night, a man in a boat opened fire on a crowd in Southport,
North Carolina, killing three and injuring five,
President Donald Trump applauded the FBI for its response to the
Michigan shooting in a social media post. Local authorities said the FBI
was sending 100 agents to Grand Blanc Township, a community of roughly
40,000 people.
“PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN
OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote.
The church building, circled by a parking lot and a large lawn, is near
residential areas and a Jehovah’s Witness church.
Brad Schneemann, whose home is about 400 yards (365 meters) from the
church, told The Associated Press that he and his daughter heard “two
rounds of four to five shots” around 10:30 a.m. “Then, we really didn’t
hear anything for a while" before they left their home to see what was
happening.
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Joanne Green of Fenton, 75, top right, and McKenna Harrington of
Davison, 25, second from right, comfort Katelyn Kruse of Fenton, 26,
center, after Kruse was present at the scene of a shooting and
structure fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on
McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Katy
Kildee/Detroit News via AP)
Tight-knit church community
Timothy Jones, 48, said his family is part of another Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation, or ward, about 15
minutes away, but that his children were at the Grand Blanc Township
ward Saturday night for a youth fall festival. He and his family
moved to Flint two years ago in large part because of how strong the
faith's community is in the area, he said.
As people in his congregation got word of the shooting from texts
and phone calls during their Sunday service, his ward went into
lockdown and police came as a precaution, he said. His children were
"frantically, just trying to get word that people were OK."
Sundays are “supposed to be a time of peace and a time of reflection
and worship,” Jones said. Yet in the wake of violence at other
houses of worship, a shooting “feels inevitable, and all the more
tragic because of that,” he added.
The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M. Nelson, the
oldest-ever president of the Utah-based faith, died at 101. The next
president is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, per church protocol.
“The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the
investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition
of those affected,” spokesperson Doug Anderson said.
“Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking,
prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all
involved.”
The impact of the shooting spread throughout the area
When striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital heard
about the shooting, some left the picket line and ran the short
distance to the church to help first responders, Teamsters Local 332
President Dan Glass said.
“Human lives matter more than our labor dispute,” Glass said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that her heart
was breaking for the community. “Violence anywhere, especially in a
place of worship, is unacceptable,” she said.
The impact spread quickly to neighboring communities, including the
small city that shares a name with the township.
“Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very
cohesive community,” said city of Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey.
“This sort of thing is painful for our entire community.”
About 100 people gathered for a prayer service Sunday evening at The
River Church in Grand Blanc, a nondenominational Christian church
about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. Many bowed their heads, some cried softly. A few
spoke their prayers aloud, asking for healing for the victims, the
victims’ families and first responders.
“We live in days that are difficult and troubled, days that are
weary and tiring,” said Pastor Chuck Lindsey, leading the
congregation in prayer. “We’re exhausted by the evil, we’re
exhausted by these things. But Lord, you are our refuge.”
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