President Donald Trump on Sunday called for an end to an “epidemic of violence” across the United States following a shooting that left casualties at a Mormon church in Michigan, calling it a “targeted attack” against Christians.
Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he was “briefed on the horrendous shooting” and that the FBI was “immediately” on the scene after the shooting.
“This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America,” Trump wrote in the post. “The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families.”
The president added in all caps that “this epidemic of violence in our country must end, immediately.”
Trump appeared to reference recent high-profile shootings, including a mass shooting at a Catholic church last month, the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk earlier this month, and a shooting that left one person dead at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building in Dallas several days ago. A shooting at a North Carolina marina on Saturday night also left three people dead and eight others injured.
Hundreds of people were inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township when a 40-year-old man rammed his vehicle into the front door, exited the vehicle, and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters in a news conference.
The suspect is believed to have also set the church on fire, Renye said. Flames and smoke could be seen for hours before the blaze was put out. First responders were then seen sifting through the wreckage.
“We do believe we will find some additional victims once we find the area where the fire was,” Renye said.
The suspect used an assault rifle in the shooting, Renye said.
An assault rifle generally refers to a select-fire, fully automatic rifle. Machine guns were effectively banned in a 1986 measure called the Firearm Owners Protection Act, only allowing machine guns that were made before 1986 available to civilians and generally making them rare and expensive to obtain.
Police said they did not yet have a motive for the fire or shooting. The church, encircled by a parking lot and a large lawn, is located near residential areas and a Jehovah’s Witness hall.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons, said that Sunday’s shooting left “multiple individuals” injured in a “tragic act of violence.”
“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 from church spokesperson Doug Andersen reads. “We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families.”
“Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection,” Andersen added.
Other officials at the state and federal level issued a statement in the wake of the shooting, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Patel, who said that FBI officials are currently responding to the shooting, wrote in a post on X that “violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act” and added that “our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy.”
“Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling,” Bondi wrote. “Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy.” She added that she has been receiving briefings on the incident.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that she was grateful to the first responders who arrived on the scene and said that violence at place of worship “is unacceptable.”
