GRAND BLANC, Mich. — In the early hours of Sunday, worship turned to horror when a gunman stormed into a Mormon church in Grand Blanc and unleashed a terrifying assault that left multiple dead and wounded. President Donald Trump characterized the incident as “yet another targeted attack on Christians,” coming a month after a mass shooting at a Catholic church in Minnesota claimed the lives of children and injured several others.
The attacker, later identified as 40‑year‑old former Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford, reportedly rammed a Chevrolet Silverado into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, then opened fire on congregants before setting the building ablaze. Sanford was killed in a shootout by responding officers.
Shortly after the shooting became known, President Trump posted on Truth Social:
“I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
Officials say the rampage began around 10:25 a.m., when Sanford crashed his vehicle through the church’s front doors while a service was underway. He exited the truck, armed with a rifle, and opened fire on worshipers. Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye reported that ten gunshot victims were transported to area hospitals.
Two officers quickly confronted Sanford, exchanged fire, and killed him. Authorities believe the gunman used an accelerant (likely gasoline) to set the church ablaze, and said additional bodies were found in the burned structure later in the day.
Investigators also reported discovering suspected explosive devices on the premises. The FBI has joined the probe, and federal and state agents are combing through Sanford’s home, phone records, and electronic devices for a motive.
Authorities later confirmed that at least four people were killed and eight others wounded in the attack. Some victims died later at hospitals, and the death toll rose after bodies were recovered from the charred remains. At the time of press, some survivors remained in critical condition and others were stable.
Sanford, originally from nearby Burton, Michigan, served four years in the Marine Corps (2004–2008) as an organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator. He reached the rank of sergeant and was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His military honors include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
Local police sources say Sanford left behind a wife and a son. In 2015, a GoFundMe campaign raised more than $3,000 for medical treatment for his then‑infant son, who suffers from congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), a rare condition in which the pancreas overproduces insulin.
Despite his military service, the motive behind Sanford’s lethal rampage remains unclear. Investigators are exploring potential ideological or psychological drivers, but no definitive motive has been announced.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed sorrow at the unfolding tragedy, calling it “heartbreaking” and declaring that violence in any house of worship is unacceptable.
Members and leaders of the LDS community responded with prayer and mourning. A church spokesperson urged that places of worship must remain safe sanctuaries of faith and community. Meanwhile, religious Americans and conservative commentators seized on Trump’s framing of the attack, warning that hate crimes targeting Christians are on the rise and that political leaders must confront this violent trend.
Trump’s call to the American people was unambiguous:
“THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
Investigations continue. The FBI and local authorities are committed to uncovering why a decorated veteran turned his weapon on innocent congregants. In the meantime, communities across America are left to grieve — and to question how to protect worshipers in an age of rising domestic terror.
