GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A gunman rammed his pickup truck through the front doors of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel during Sunday services, opened fire on worshippers with an assault rifle, and deliberately set the building ablaze, killing at least four people and injuring eight others, authorities said. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of nearby Burton, Michigan, was fatally shot by police in the church parking lot minutes after the attack began.
The rampage, which unfolded around 10:25 a.m. local time on September 28, 2025, at the chapel in Grand Blanc Township—a suburb of Flint about 60 miles northwest of Detroit—left hundreds of congregants, including families and children, in terror as flames engulfed the sanctuary. Officers responded within 30 seconds of the first 911 call and neutralized Sanford by 10:33 a.m., according to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. “A 40-year-old suspect from Burton drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church,” Renye said at an evening press conference. “He then exited his vehicle, firing several rounds.”
The church, surrounded by a large parking lot and residential neighborhoods, was packed with around 150 to 200 worshippers for the weekly service—one of the largest congregations in the area. Eyewitnesses described chaos as the assailant, driving a four-door pickup adorned with two American flags in the bed, crashed into the entrance before emerging to unleash gunfire. Investigators believe Sanford then intentionally ignited the blaze, which quickly spread, forcing evacuations and complicating rescue efforts. “The entire church is on fire,” Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson told reporters at the scene. “This is a dynamic scene.” Firefighters battled heavy smoke and flames for hours, with the building suffering extensive damage.
As of Sunday evening, authorities confirmed four deaths—two from gunshot wounds and two whose causes remain under investigation, potentially linked to the fire—and eight injuries, including one victim in critical condition and seven in stable condition. Officials warned that the toll could rise as search teams comb the charred structure for additional victims. Reunification centers were established at a nearby theater and off-site locations to help families locate loved ones.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken the lead in the probe, classifying the incident as “an act of targeted violence.” Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, announced that more than 100 agents were en route, joined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “I can confirm at this time that the FBI is now leading the investigation,” Coleman said. No motive has been publicly disclosed, but the rapid response by local officers—a Department of Natural Resources officer and a township police officer—likely prevented further casualties.
The attack struck just one day after the death of Russell M. Nelson, the 101-year-old president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—commonly known as the Mormon church—prompting an outpouring of grief from the faith’s 16 million global members, about 2% of whom live in the U.S., per Pew Research. The church, founded in the early 19th century, issued a statement calling the violence “a tragic act of worship.” “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection,” it read. “We pray for peace and healing for all involved.” Under church protocol, Dallin H. Oaks is expected to succeed Nelson as president.
This tragedy adds to a grim tally of violence at U.S. houses of worship, marking the 324th mass shooting of 2025 according to the Gun Violence Archive. It comes just weeks after a mid-Mass shooting in Minneapolis that killed two children and a June incident at another Michigan church. Community members, like 19-year-old missionary Justin Jensen, who frequented the chapel, expressed shock: “The fact that it’s happening at a church just blew my mind.” Timothy Jones, 48, whose family attends a nearby ward, noted his children had been at a youth event there the night before.
Grand Blanc Township, with a population of about 40,000 surrounding the smaller city of 8,000, is reeling from the assault on its tight-knit community. As investigators sift through the wreckage, residents gathered in prayer vigils, grappling with the violation of a sacred space. The FBI’s ongoing probe will seek answers on Sanford’s motives, but for now, the focus remains on supporting survivors and honoring the fallen in a place meant for solace.
