Michigan church attack leaves at least 4 dead as search for additional victims continues

Last Update September 29, 2025, 2:43 AM EDT

A Sunday service in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, turned into a nightmare when a gunman rammed his vehicle into a church, set the building on fire, and opened fire on congregants. At least four people have died, multiple others were critically injured, and authorities are still investigating the attack.

Covered by: Greg Wehner, Louis Casiano, Bradford Betzand Christina Shaw

Fast Facts

Police identified the suspected gunman as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, who drove a truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, set it on fire and opened fire during Sunday service.
At least four people are dead, seven are in stable condition and one remains in critical condition. Two were killed by gunfire; two others were found after the fire.
The shooter, armed with what appeared to be a rifle, exchanged gunfire with officers and was killed at the scene.
The FBI is leading the case, with ATF, state, and local authorities assisting.
Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints called the violence “tragic,” urging prayer, peace, and support for victims and families.
Police said additional people may have died in the blaze, but the number has not yet been confirmed.

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6 hour(s) ago

PINNED

Worshippers shielded children during shooting, police chief says

Some of the hundreds of congregants inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped shield the children during the shooting, authorities said.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the heroism of not only the first responders, but the people who were inside that church at the time,” Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye.

“They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety,” he added.

Posted by Louis Casiano Share

40 min(s) ago

Michigan LDS church shooter tied to 2007 hometown profile as Marine ‘on the move’

Emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Police said there are multiple victims and the shooter is down.

A 2007 Clarkston News article described then-22-year-old Thomas “Jake” Sanford, an Atlas Township/Goodrich High School alum, as a Marine sergeant preparing to deploy to Fallujah, with a proud family behind him.

“I’m excited to go … I’ll return with the real news of the situation,” Sanford said, while his father added, “We are very proud of him.”

The article also quotes Sanford’s father as describing his son as “a homegrown kid who misses his family when he’s gone … Jake’s going voluntarily and plans on returning to this community when his service is over. We are very proud of him.”

Sanford rammed a pickup into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church during Sunday services before opening fire and then setting the building ablaze.

The attack killed at least four and injured eight before he was shot and killed by officers responding to the incident.

Posted by Christina Shaw Share

4 hour(s) ago

Gretchen Whitmer orders US flags flown half-staff to honor Michigan church shooting victims

Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, during a panel session on the opening day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023. (Stefan Wermuth/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered U.S. and Michigan flags at the State Capitol and public buildings across the Great Lake State to be flown half-staff in honor of the victims of Sunday’s shooting at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township.

“My heart is breaking for this community,” the democratic governor said in a statement, adding that violence “anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.”

“I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. To honor those we have lost, I am ordering flags to be lowered across Michigan,” Whitmer said. “Our state is in mourning alongside the victims, their families, and the entire community in Grand Blanc Township.”

The governor’s office said it was encouraging residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations to display the flag at half-staff.

Flags will be returned to full staff on Saturday, October 4, 2025.

Posted by Bradford Betz Share

BREAKING NEWS7 hour(s) ago

4 dead after additional bodies found, police say

Two more people are confirmed dead as a result of Sunday’s shooting and fire at a Mormon church in Michigan as the search for additional victims continues.

Authorities in Grand Blanc Township said two additional bodies were recovered from the burned out church.

The other two people killed were shot, police said.Police believe the attacker used an accelerant, likely gasoline, to start the fire.

The attacker was killed by police.

“The entire church has not been cleared because it’s a total loss due to the fire,” Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters.

He noted that some people remained unaccounted for as of Sunday night.

Posted by Louis Casiano Share

7 hour(s) ago

Suspected Michigan church gunman identified as former Marine

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a shooting which took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to police, in Grand Blanc, Michigan, U.S., Sept. 28, 2025. (REUTERS/Rebecca Cook)

Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man police said crashed his truck into a Michigan church, set it on fire and shot churchgoers in a violent attack, is a former Marine.

The Marine Corps confirmed to Fox News’ Garrett Tenney that Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, was a Marine and served from 2004-2008, including deployments to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and worked as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator.

His last assignment was with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Sanford left the Marines as a sergeant.

He earned several awards during his four years of service, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Police have confirmed at least two people died in the shooting. Eight other people were injured. Authorities said they fear more people may have died in the fire, but have not been able to say how many.

Posted by Greg Wehner Share

BREAKING NEWS10 hour(s) ago

Michigan authorities ID deceased suspect

Michigan authorities have identified the suspect believed to have killed at least two people and injured several others as Thomas Jacob Sanford.

Sanford, 40, allegedly opened fired during a service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles north of Detroit.

As of Sunday evening, 7 victims were in stable condition and one was in critical condition, police said during a short news conference.

Posted by Louis Casiano Share

10 hour(s) ago

No apparent connection between Michigan church shooter and LDS congregation

A spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said early indications show the gunman in Sunday’s Michigan church shooting does not appear to have any connection to the congregation.

The LDS called Sunday’s shooting ‘a tragic act of violence’ after the gunman opened fire during worship services, injuring multiple people.

“A tragic act of violence occurred today at a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan,” LDS leadership said in a statement on Sunday. “During Sunday worship services a gunman opened fire, and early reports indicate that multiple individuals were injured. We ask for cooperation with local authorities as details become available.

“The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected,” the statement continued. “We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families.

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ,” church leaders added. “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

Posted by Greg Wehner Share

11 hour(s) ago

Witness recalls truck slamming into Michigan church before gunfire erupted

Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)

An eyewitness said chaos erupted Sunday when a truck crashed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, and the driver opened fire on worshippers, forcing families to flee as bullets tore through the congregation.

A church member told Fox News’ Garrett Tenney that the sacrament — similar to Holy Communion — had just ended when a crash and enormous boom shook the wall behind the pulpit. He said the brick wall was buckling inward from the force of the impact.

About 150 people were inside at the time, including many families with young children, the witness said. The crash was so loud some thought a bomb had gone off. Panic spread as worshippers ran out the back of the church into the parking lot.

MICHIGAN CHURCH SHOOTING LEAVES MULTIPLE VICTIMS; POLICE SAY SHOOTER ‘DOWN’

The witness and a few others went out front, thinking a car had accidentally veered off the road. Outside, he saw a man step from a large pickup truck with a rifle and open fire indiscriminately on people fleeing the Michigan church.

As bullets flew past, the witness turned and ran back inside toward the rear of the building where his family had fled. Along the way, he passed a teenager with blood on his arm who said, “I got shot.”

At the back exit, he saw people cramming into cars, squeezing in as many as possible to escape.

Posted by Greg Wehner Share

11 hour(s) ago

Cities increase police presence at places of worship

Authorities in Los Angeles and New York City are deploying more police officers near places of worship following Sunday’s deadly church shooting in Michigan.

Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the New York City Police Department are increasing patrols out of an abundance of caution, officials said.

Cities often increase patrols near religious buildings whenever an attack occurs at a place of worship.

Posted by Louis Casiano Share

BREAKING NEWS11 hour(s) ago

Second victim dies after shooting, police say

A second victim has died from a gunshot wound sustained during Sunday’s shooting, authorities said.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye announced the death in a video posted on Facebook.

Police previously said at least one person was killed. At least 8 others people were injured.

The shooter died after being pursued by police.

Posted by Louis Casiano Share

11 hour(s) ago

Michigan church shooting leaves at least 1 dead, multiple people injured during Sunday service

A gunman opened fire inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, killing one person and injuring nine others, during Sunday services before setting the building ablaze, police said.

The 40-year-old man rammed a pickup truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, which was filled with hundreds of people.

The man was killed after police officers engaged him, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters at a press conference.

The gunman was armed with what appeared to be an assault rifle, the chief said. Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the attack.

Renye said there may be more victims as authorities begin to search the burned structure following the large fire.

“We do believe that there was people up there that were near that fire and they were unable to get out of the church,” the police chief said. “So we do believe that we will find additional victims once we’re able to search.”

Posted by Louis Casiano Share

11 hour(s) ago

Trump praises late LDS President Russell M. Nelson as surgeon and spiritual leader

Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his Salt Lake City home on Saturday, the church announced. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump praised President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), Prophet Russell M. Nelson, who died overnight at 101, as both a pioneering heart surgeon and a devoted spiritual leader.

Nelson’s death comes just one day before the deadly attack on the LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. It’s unclear if his death was in any way connected to the shooting and fire.

In a Truth Social post, Trump offered condolences to Nelson’s wife, Wendy, his large family and church members across the nation. He highlighted Nelson’s sharpness and service up to the end, calling him “a physician, literally and spiritually,” whose remarkable life and decades of ministry will be greatly missed.

RUSSELL M. NELSON, OLDEST PRESIDENT OF THE LDS CHURCH, DIES AT AGE 101

“Russell M. Nelson, the President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away last night at the age of 101 — He just had his birthday earlier this week!,” Trump wrote. “Russell was sharp and engaged in service up until the end.”

“Our hearts and prayers are with his incredible wife, Wendy, his 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and more than 167 great-grandchildren, as well as Members of the Church all over our Country,” Trump continued. “Russell had a remarkable life, pioneering life-saving heart surgery techniques and, of course, his ministry of many decades. He was a physician, literally and spiritually, and will be greatly missed!”

Posted by Greg Wehner Share

12 hour(s) ago

Congress members respond to Michigan church attack

Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Maria Salazar, R-Fla., offered prayers after Sunday’s Michigan church shooting that left one dead and nine injured. Salazar also urged unity to confront what she called an epidemic of senseless violence.

On X, Lawler asked Americans to keep the LDS parish community, along with the victims and their families, in their prayers.

MICHIGAN CHURCH SHOOTING LEAVES MULTIPLE VICTIMS; POLICE SAY SHOOTER ‘DOWN’

“My heartfelt prayers are with the families and parish community of the LDS church in Michigan,” he wrote. “Please keep them in your thoughts during this difficult time.”

Salazar condemned the attack and called for an end to what she described as an “epidemic of senseless violence.”

“I am deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at the LDS church in Michigan,” she wrote. “My prayers are with the victims, their families, and the entire community. We must come together to end this epidemic of senseless violence.”

Posted by Greg Wehner Share

12 hour(s) ago

Hakeem Jeffries says he is ‘shocked and dismayed’ by deadly shooting

Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader of the U.S House of Representatives, speaks onstage during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation)

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said he was “shocked and dismayed” by Sunday’s deadly shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service in Michigan.

“My heartfelt prayers and condolences are extended to the victims, families, congregants and community,” he said in a statement.

“The level of high profile violence in America this year shocks the conscience,” Jeffries added. “Our country is spiraling out of control. We need dramatic change.”