Deadly Attack on Mormon Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI — A violent attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday, September 28, 2025, left at least four people dead and eight others injured.

The assailant, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, drove a pickup truck into the church during a Sunday service attended by hundreds. He then exited the vehicle, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the building ablaze using gasoline. Sanford was fatally shot by police officers within minutes of the attack, which occurred around 10:25 a.m.

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Authorities, including the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), are investigating the incident as a targeted act of violence. The motive remains unclear, and officials are examining Sanford's background, including his military service in Iraq, for potential leads. No explosives were found at the scene, and bomb threats made to other churches in the area were determined to be unfounded.

The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from local and national leaders. Governor Gretchen Whitmer and President Donald Trump both expressed grief and outrage over the incident. President Trump labeled the attack a targeted assault on Christians and called for an end to the epidemic of violence in the country.

As of now, authorities continue to search the church's remains for additional victims and gather evidence to determine the full scope of the tragedy.