Ex‑Marine Opens Fire, Burns Michigan Church During Service/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A former Marine launched a deadly attack on a Michigan church during Sunday services, killing four and wounding eight before being fatally shot by police. The assailant drove into the building, opened fire, and set it ablaze. Authorities continue to investigate, search for more victims, and determine a motive.
Michigan Church Shooting Quick Looks
- Shooter identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, a former U.S. Marine from Burton, Michigan
- Drove a pickup truck into the church, then opened fire on worshipers
- Fire set using accelerants, and possible explosives discovered at the scene
- 4 killed, 8 wounded — 1 in critical condition, others stable
- Shooter killed in a police shootout within minutes
- Bomb threats later targeted other churches; no devices found
- Motive unclear; investigation led by the FBI as a targeted act of violence
- Community stunned as faith groups hold vigils and demand answers
Ex‑Marine Opens Fire, Burns Michigan Church During Service
Deep Look
A Sunday morning of prayer and peace turned into a nightmare at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, when a man rammed a pickup truck into the building, began firing a weapon, and set the church on fire. Hundreds were gathered inside for worship when the attack occurred just after 10:25 a.m.
The shooter, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford from nearby Burton, stepped out of the vehicle with two American flags mounted in the truck bed and began firing. Authorities said Sanford also used gasoline to ignite a fire inside the church and had explosive devices in his possession, although it remains unclear whether any were detonated.
First responders arrived within 30 seconds of the 911 call. After Sanford exited the church, two officers engaged him in a brief pursuit. Within approximately eight minutes of the initial assault, Sanford was killed in a gunfight with law enforcement.
Inside the church, chaos and courage unfolded simultaneously. Parishioners shielded children, guided them to safety, and tried to escape the blaze and gunfire. The flames engulfed the building for several hours before firefighters extinguished the fire.
By Sunday evening, four people were confirmed dead and eight more injured, including one person in critical condition. Officials found two bodies in the church’s burned-out remains and warned that more victims might be discovered as the search continued. Authorities noted that several people remained unaccounted for, although an exact number was not provided.
Following the attack, bomb threats were made against other churches in the area. Police investigated each threat but reported no active bombs were found. The FBI, which is now leading the investigation, is treating the assault as an act of targeted violence.
Little is known about Sanford’s motive. Investigators have searched his home but have not released details about their findings. It is also unknown whether Sanford had any affiliation with the church he attacked.
Military records confirm that Sanford served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008. He held the rank of sergeant and worked as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator. He was deployed to Iraq between August 2007 and March 2008.
This tragedy marks another grim chapter in a growing list of violent attacks on places of worship across the United States. Just weeks earlier, a separate church shooting in Minneapolis left two children dead. The Michigan attack came less than 24 hours after another mass shooting occurred in Southport, North Carolina, where a gunman fired from a boat into a crowd, killing three and injuring five.
Adding further heartbreak, the attack came the morning after the passing of Russell M. Nelson, the 101-year-old president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the church prepares to name its next leader, the community is also grappling with loss, trauma, and disbelief.
Grand Blanc residents and those in nearby congregations felt the impact deeply. One local resident, Brad Schneemann, who lives about 400 yards from the church, said he and his daughter heard two rounds of gunfire before rushing outside to see what was happening.
Timothy Jones, a member of a nearby LDS congregation, said his children had attended a youth event at the Grand Blanc church the night before the attack. When news of the shooting reached his ward during their own Sunday service, it went into lockdown. He recalled his children “frantically trying to get word that people were OK.”
He reflected on the painful reality of modern worship in America: “Sundays are supposed to be a time of peace and reflection. But in this environment, tragedy feels inevitable — and all the more heartbreaking because of it.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement expressing sorrow and condemning the violence. She described the attack as “unacceptable,” especially given that it took place in a house of worship.
Across the region, prayer vigils were organized, including one attended by roughly 100 people at The River Church, a nondenominational congregation five miles from the LDS building. Mourners prayed for victims, families, and first responders.
Striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital reportedly left their picket lines to assist emergency crews at the scene. A union spokesperson said, “Human lives matter more than our labor dispute.”
President Donald Trump also responded on social media, praising the FBI and demanding an end to the violence. “PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” he wrote.
As the investigation continues, the people of Grand Blanc are left grieving — and searching for answers. The church, once a place of reflection and safety, now stands as the site of a devastating attack, with its community forever changed.
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