4 Dead as Trained Ex-Military Man Set Fire to Christians Inside Church During Service
- Four people have been confirmed dead and eight others injured after a gunman attacked a Michigan church during Sunday service
- The suspect, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, rammed a vehicle into the church, opened fire with an assault-style rifle, and set the building ablaze
- FBI agents are leading the investigation as authorities search the suspect’s property and phone records to uncover a motive
A deadly attack on a Michigan church has left four people dead and eight others injured after a gunman rammed a vehicle into the building, opened fire and set it ablaze before being shot by police.
Authorities confirmed that the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, was killed outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.
Source: Getty Images
The town is about 60 miles northwest of Detroit.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said the violence began around 10:25 a.m. local time during a Sunday service attended by hundreds of worshippers.
Sanford drove a vehicle into the church, entered the building and fired several rounds from an assault-style rifle. “Hundreds” of people were inside at the time, including children who were quickly sheltered by other churchgoers.
Two victims died from gunshot wounds during the initial attack. Chief Renye later confirmed two additional fatalities and said several people remained unaccounted for as crews continued clearing the fire-damaged church late Sunday.
He added that the suspect used an accelerant, likely gasoline, to start the fire. Officers who rushed to the scene exchanged gunfire with Sanford and killed him at 10:33 a.m., eight minutes after the first shots were reported.
“We are still trying to determine exactly when and where the fire ended up coming from and how it got started,” Chief Renye said at a press briefing.
He praised the “heroism” of parishioners who protected children while the assault unfolded.
Source: Getty Images
Investigators are searching Sanford’s property and reviewing his phone records in an effort to determine a motive.
Records show he was a Marine Corps veteran, according to CBS.
The FBI has taken the lead on the investigation and deployed crisis response teams, bomb technicians and other specialists to assist local authorities.
Michigan State Police confirmed that additional bomb threats at other locations were investigated and cleared.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement confirming the attack and offering prayers for victims and their families.
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed and noted that the FBI would handle the federal investigation, calling the incident “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer described the attack as unacceptable and said she was closely monitoring developments. Former senator Mitt Romney called the shooting a tragedy and urged prayers for healing.
Gunmen abduct corps member
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that gunmen had abducted a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member and a 300-level student from the University of Jos.
The attackers reportedly broke into the residence of one Solomon Dansure in the Dong community on September 14, 2025, before taking two people captive.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
