Grand Blanc Township church shooting: 5 dead after shooting, fire at LDS church
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Five people are dead, including the shooter, and eight others are hospitalized after a shooting Sunday morning at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, according to police.
UPDATE 12:30 P.M. SEPT. 29: Police confirm all people accounted for after church attack
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, of Burton, rammed a vehicle into the church on McCandlish Road before opening fire on hundreds of people who were worshiping.
Police sources said Sanford was a Marine veteran who spent time in Iraq. According to sources, he had a wife and a son. Two American flags were flying from the back of his truck when he hit the church building with it.
The FBI said Sunday night that the attack was being investigated "as a targeted act of violence."
Thomas Jacob Sanford (Photo: Facebook)
What we know:
According to Renye, the suspect shot 10 people before a confrontation with police that ended with him being shot dead.
Those 10 victims were brought to a hospital, where two people have since died. As of 5 p.m. Sunday, seven victims were listed as stable and one is in critical condition.
In addition to shooting victims, Renye said the suspect also set the church on fire. Later Sunday night, police said an additional two victims were found inside the church after crews began entering the destroyed building. Those two victims had not been shot.
Renye said there are still people unaccounted for, and more people who succumbed to the fire will likely be discovered when the entire building can safely be searched.
"The shooter is down, we do have multiple victims, the entire church is on fire," Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said after the shooting.
An official with the ATF said suspected explosives were found, but it is unclear if those were involved in the fire. It is known that gasoline was used to ignite the building.
In addition to the shooting and fire, Michigan State Police said authorities have been handling reports of bomb threats in the area after the attack.
Timeline:
Renye said a call was received about a shooting at the church at 10:25:32 a.m. Within seconds, at 10:25:57 a.m., he said officers were on the scene.
By 10:33:44 a.m., Sanford was dead after being shot by police.
Local perspective:
Witness Brian Taylor said churchgoers thought someone had accidentally hit the building at first. He said church started at 10 a.m. and the service was happening when there was a loud noise and a crack in the chapel wall.
"We heard a large, just a large bang," he said.
Grand Blanc church shooting survivor talks about escaping from attack
Brian Taylor was inside his vehicle and shot at when he escaped the attack at a Grand Blanc, Michigan church.
Taylor said churchgoers went outside to help, but soon realized it wasn't an accident. He described seeing a man he did not recognize driving a truck armed with a rifle before the shooting started.
Grand Blanc church shooting: What’s known about the suspect
Police said a 40-year-old man from Burton was suspected of ramming his car into the church's front doors, start shooting and "deliberately" start a fire.
As Taylor and his wife tried to drive away, he said the suspect shot at their vehicle, causing their windshield to shatter. Taylor suffered a hand injury from shrapnel.
The church released a statement after the shooting:
"A tragic act of violence occurred today at a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
"During Sunday worship services, a gunman opened fire, and early reports indicate that multiple individuals were injured. We ask for cooperation with local authorities as details become available.
"The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected. We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families.
"We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved."
What they're saying:
United States Attorney General Pam Bondi said on X that agents from the FBI and ATF are headed to the scene.
"Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy," she wrote.
FBI Director Kash Patel echoed what Bondi said, writing on X that "violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act."
President Donald Trump also responded to the shooting, writing on Truth Social that "this epidemic of violence in our country must end, immediately!"
What we don't know:
No further details about the suspect have been released. It is unclear if he was a member of the church.
What's next:
Police are now searching for a motive for the attack. As of 3 p.m., authorities were searching the suspect's Burton home for any clues. That home is about 15 minutes from the church.
The city is providing resources for those impacted by the shooting. These services will be available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday at the Genesys Health Club. Then, services will be available Wednesday through Friday at the Grand Blanc Senior Center.
What you can do:
Anyone with information is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.
The Source: This information is from Grand Blanc Township police.