A tragic mass shooting shook Michigan on Sunday when a former U.S. Marine carried out a deadly attack at a local church. The assault left at least four people dead and eight others wounded before police fatally shot the suspect.
The incident occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, around 60 miles northwest of Detroit. Authorities identified the attacker as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a Marine veteran from Burton.
Police said Sanford drove his vehicle into the church doors before storming inside with an assault rifle. He also used gasoline to ignite flames, causing panic among hundreds of worshippers inside the building.
Two victims died instantly, while eight were rushed to nearby hospitals. Hours later, investigators discovered two additional bodies in the burned remains of the church. Police Chief William Renye confirmed that several people were still unaccounted for as searches continued.
The police response was swift. Two officers reached the site within 30 seconds of the first call. They engaged Sanford in a gunfight and killed him in the parking lot about eight minutes after the attack began.
Officials from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reported that explosives were recovered at the scene. The FBI classified the incident as a case of “targeted violence.”
Military records revealed Sanford served in the Marines from 2004 to 2008 and had been deployed to Iraq. Investigators are now examining his background and possible motives.
Eyewitnesses described the attack as terrifying. One church member, Paula, said she lost friends and young children she taught on Sundays. Another witness recalled hearing a loud explosion as Sanford forced his way in.
National leaders also reacted. Former U.S. President Donald Trump called it “another targeted attack on Christians” and urged immediate action against rising violence.
The tragedy in Michigan marked the 324th mass shooting in the U.S. this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It followed two other deadly shootings earlier that day in North Carolina and Texas.
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