What was supposed to be a peaceful Sunday service in Grand Blanc, Michigan, turned into a scene of horror when a man stormed into a church with violence on his mind.
Around 10:25 a.m., as hundreds gathered inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his car straight into the building. Armed with an assault-style rifle, he began shooting at worshippers before using gasoline to set the church on fire.
Police rushed to the scene and confronted Sanford in the church’s parking lot. A gunfight followed, and by 10:33 a.m.—just eight minutes after the chaos began—Sanford was shot and killed.
Authorities say four people were killed, two of them from gunshot wounds, and at least eight others were injured. Some church members are still unaccounted for as crews search through the fire-damaged building.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye praised churchgoers who acted quickly to protect children during the attack, calling their actions heroic.
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Investigators are now searching Sanford’s home and phone records to figure out why he carried out the attack. Records show he was a Marine Corps veteran.
The FBI has taken the lead in the investigation, sending in crisis teams, bomb technicians, and more than 100 agents. Meanwhile, Michigan State Police reported that officers also had to deal with bomb threats at other locations in the area, all of which turned out to be false alarms.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement confirming multiple injuries and asking for prayers of healing and peace.
Reactions poured in from across the country. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence, while President Donald Trump called it “yet another targeted attack on Christians.” Attorney General Pam Bondi and Senator Mitt Romney also expressed grief and offered prayers for the victims.
For the people of Grand Blanc, a quiet town about an hour northwest of Detroit, this tragedy has left a mark that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.
