The shooting took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, about 50 miles north of Detroit.
Monday 29 September 2025 03:29, UK
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Five people have been killed and at least eight others injured after a mass shooting and fire at a Mormon church in Michigan, police have said.
The incident took place at around 10.25am local time on Sunday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, about 50 miles north of Detroit.
The suspect – identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from the nearby city of Burton – was shot dead by police officers.
He served in the Marines from June 2004 to June 2008 and was deployed in Iraq, Sky News’ US partner network NBC News reported.
Sanford drove a vehicle through the front doors of the church before opening fire with an assault rifle, police said.
He then exited the vehicle and began firing rounds at people who were attending Sunday service, before deliberately starting the blaze, police added.
The blaze has been extinguished but authorities believe they will find additional victims in the charred building.
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At around 8pm on Sunday (1am in the UK), Grand Blanc Township Chief William Renye confirmed that a further two victims were found in the burned remains of the church, in addition to two other victims who had suffered gunshot wounds.
As many as three improvised devices were found at the scene, according to two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation, NBC reported.
According to Chief Renye, when gunfire broke out, people inside the church bravely put themselves at risk to protect the children.
“They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety,” he said. “Just extreme courage.”
Chief Renye said law enforcement officers arrived at the church within 30 seconds of receiving a 911 call. The suspect was “neutralised” in the back parking lot within eight minutes by a Department of Natural Resources officer and a Grand Blanc Township officer, he said.
Michigan<\/strong><\/a> governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that “my heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community” after the shooting.
She added: “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly.”
Sheriff: ‘Entire church is on fire’<\/strong>
Genesee County sheriff Christopher Swanson said at around 12.20pm that the “entire church” was on fire, and confirmed that people who were at the church had been evacuated.
Around 20 minutes later, the police department said the fire had been contained.
US attorney general Pam Bondi confirmed the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were responding to the incident.
US President Donald Trump said on Truth Social that “the suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn”, before saying the shooting “appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America”.
He added: “PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
In the wake of the shooting and fire, the New York Police Department said it would deploy officers to religious institutions across the city “out of an abundance of caution”.
The incident occurred the morning after Russell M Nelson, the oldest-ever president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died aged 101.
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Shootings reported in North Carolina, New Orleans, Texas<\/strong>
Meanwhile, authorities responded to a mass shooting at a coastal town in North Carolina late on Saturday, where three people were killed.
At least eight others were injured in that incident, where someone opened fire from a boat into a crowd at a bar.
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Another shooting took place at a south Texas casino early on Sunday, with seven people shot and two killed.
A woman was also killed, and three others were injured in Bourbon Street, New Orleans, early on Sunday after a shooting.<\/p>\n