At least four people were killed and eight others wounded in a mass shooting Sunday at a chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Authorities say the suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, deliberately set the church on fire and then opened fire with an assault rifle inside the building. The blaze caused parts of the chapel to collapse.
What happened & when
- At 10:25 am local time, police received a report that an armed man had driven a vehicle into the church.
- The suspect fired several rounds at people inside the chapel.
- Officers responded and exchanged fire with the suspect. He was shot dead at 10:33 am in the church’s parking area—eight minutes after the attack began.
- Congregants were inside attending services when the fire erupted.
- Investigators believe the fire was deliberately started by the suspect.
Where & who
- The attack took place in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, about 60 miles northwest of Detroit.
- Sanford was a former U.S. Marine (2004 to 2008), who saw deployment to al-Fallujah, Iraq.
- After service, Sanford lived in Burton, Michigan, and worked as a truck operator.
- He was also a father—his son, Brantlee, was born with a rare condition called hyperinsulinism.
- Local authorities reported that three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found in Sanford’s vehicle.
Victims & investigation
- At least four people died, and eight were wounded, some critically.
- Authorities warn that more victims could still be found in the debris of the partially collapsed structure.
- The FBI is now leading the probe, labeling the shooting an “act of targeted violence.”
- This incident is the 324th mass shooting documented in the U.S. in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
The full story is still unfolding.
