At least four people were killed and eight others injured after a gunman rammed a pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan, opened fire and set the building on fire during a Sunday service.
The attacker was later fatally shot by police. Authorities continued to search the church ruins for additional victims.
The incident occurred around 10:25 a.m. local time in Grand Blanc Township, near Flint, while hundreds were inside the church.
Police identified the gunman as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former Marine from nearby Burton.
He reportedly exited his vehicle carrying two American flags, opened fire and used gasoline to ignite the fire. Explosive devices were also found, though it was unclear if they were deployed.
Police Chief William Renye said responding officers arrived within 30 seconds of a 911 call. Sanford fled the scene, prompting a brief pursuit and gunfire exchange that left him dead about eight minutes later. Authorities said churchgoers shielded children and moved them to safety during the attack.
The blaze engulfed the large church for hours before firefighters extinguished it. Two bodies were recovered from the debris, while one victim remained in critical condition and seven others were stable. Some attendees were unaccounted for, police said.
Sanford’s motive remains unclear. Military records show he served in the Marines from 2004 to 2008, including deployment to Iraq. The FBI, leading the investigation, described the attack as “targeted violence.”
The shooting occurred a day after the death of Russell M. Nelson, the church’s president, aged 101. Church spokesperson Doug Anderson said authorities were cooperating with law enforcement and urged prayers for peace and healing.
President Donald Trump praised the FBI’s response on social media and called for an end to “this epidemic of violence” in the U.S.
The attack reverberated across the region, prompting prayer services and community support. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the incident “unacceptable,” emphasizing that violence in places of worship is intolerable.
