Gunman kills four, sets Mormon church on fire in Michigan

At least four people have been killed and several others injured after a gunman drove a vehicle into a church in Michigan, opened fire, and set the building ablaze, police have said.

Officials reported that the attack on The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc—a town 60 miles (100km) northwest of Detroit—occurred during a Sunday service attended by hundreds of worshippers.

The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, was later shot dead by police in the church car park.

Authorities are treating the incident as an “act of targeted violence,” although they say the motive remains unclear.

Two of the victims died from gunshot wounds, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told a press conference on Sunday. The fire caused extensive damage to the building, and some individuals remained unaccounted for, he added.

Earlier, Chief Renye said that “hundreds” of people were attending services at around 10:25 local time (15:25 GMT) when the gunman drove a vehicle into the building. The attacker then opened fire with an assault-style rifle, “firing several rounds at individuals within the church,” he said.

Police responded immediately, and officers “engaged in gunfire with the individual, neutralising the suspect,” who was killed at 10:33 local time—just eight minutes after the shooting began.

“We are still trying to determine exactly when and where the fire originated and how it started,” Chief Renye said. “However, we believe it was deliberately set by the suspect.”

Investigators are searching the suspect’s property and examining his mobile phone records as they work to establish a motive.

The FBI is leading the investigation and has deployed crisis response teams, bomb technicians, and other specialists to the scene, according to Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office.

Michigan State Police spokeswoman Kim Vetter told reporters that officers had also responded to additional bomb threats at multiple other locations. “We’ve responded and cleared those locations,” she said.

In a statement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed that a gunman opened fire during worship services and that “multiple individuals were injured.” The church added: “We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

Grand Blanc police said that around 100 FBI agents have been deployed to assist with the investigation.

Former President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting and confirmed that the FBI would lead the federal investigation. Writing on Truth Social, he described the incident as “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.”

US Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on X that she had received briefings on “what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire” at the church. “Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling,” she said. “Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy.”

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the attack, stating: “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” and added that she was closely monitoring the situation.

Mitt Romney, former US senator for Utah and one of the most prominent Latter-day Saint politicians, called the shooting a “tragedy,” saying: “My brothers and sisters and their church are targets of violence. Praying for healing and comfort.”