Mass Shooting in Michigan Leaves 4 Dead, Several Injured, Church Set Ablaze

A Sunday service in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, ended in horror when a gunman drove a pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opened fire on congregants, and set the chapel on fire. Police later killed the suspect in a firefight; officials say at least four victims are dead and eight others wounded as first responders searched the charred wreckage.

Authorities have identified the attacker as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Iraq. Police say Sanford used an assault-style rifle during the attack and deliberately ignited the blaze that consumed much of the building; investigators are executing search warrants at his home and combing his devices for motive and evidence.

This Michigan church shooting is grimly part of a wider pattern of mass violence across the United States in 2025:

• Police report at least 4 dead and 8 injured at the Grand Blanc LDS church, with the suspect killed at the scene.

• Officials say the assailant was confronted and shot by local officers within minutes of the attack beginning.

• Reuters notes this incident was among a cluster of mass shootings in the U.S. over a 24‑hour span and marked the 324th mass shooting in 2025.

Key facts investigators and the public should know right now:

• The attack began when the suspect rammed a Chevrolet Silverado through the church’s front, then opened fire and set the structure ablaze. Fire crews later extinguished the blaze as officers continued the scene examination.

• Federal authorities including the FBI and ATF are on scene to assist the local Homicide Unit as detectives process evidence and work to determine motive.

• Authorities caution that counts and conditions may change as rescue and recovery efforts continue and as officials comb through damaged areas for additional victims.

Why this matters

• Places of worship are meant to be safe havens. An attack that combines vehicle ramming, arson, and mass shooting tactics reflects an alarming escalation in the types of mass violence first responders now face.

• The suspect’s military background a former Marine deployed to Iraq will prompt examination of his service history and any indicators missed by family, community, or medical systems. Police say they will seek warrants and examine his digital footprint for motive.

What officials are doing now

• Local police continue a full criminal and forensic investigation, serving search warrants and interviewing witnesses. The FBI has mobilized agents to support evidence collection and any federal inquiries.

• Community leaders and elected officials have issued statements mourning the victims and praising first responders; state and federal officials say they will monitor the situation as investigations proceed.

The human toll is immediate families grieving in a tight-knit faith community, injured parishioners hospitalized, and a town left to face the aftermath. As investigators piece together motive and timeline, this Michigan church shooting will raise hard questions about how communities, medical systems, and law enforcement can better detect and deter those who plot such violent attacks.

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