Gunman Kills 4, Injures 8 in Attack on Michigan Church

At least four people were killed and eight injured when a gunman rammed his pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan on Sunday morning, opened fire during services, and set the building ablaze. Police fatally shot the attacker, authorities said.

The assault began around 10:25 a.m. in Grand Blanc Township, near Flint, where hundreds had gathered for worship. Police Chief William Renye said the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, exited his truck—which displayed two American flags—and began shooting. Investigators said he used gas to ignite the fire and may have carried explosives, though it was unclear if they were deployed.

The FBI is leading the case, calling it “an act of targeted violence.” Officers arrived within 30 seconds of a 911 call and killed Sanford about eight minutes later, Renye said. Inside, congregants shielded children and moved them to safety as flames and smoke poured from the chapel.

Two victims were found in the debris, and authorities warned the toll could rise as searches continue. One of the injured remained in critical condition Sunday night. Some churchgoers were still unaccounted for, and nearby congregations received bomb threats after the attack, though none were substantiated.

Sanford, a former Marine who served in Iraq, had no immediately known ties to the church. Authorities were searching his home. His motive remains unclear.

The violence marked the second mass shooting in less than 24 hours in the US, following a North Carolina boat attack that killed three.

President Donald Trump said he had been briefed, praised the FBI’s swift response, and wrote on social media: “PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”

The attack shook Michigan’s Mormon community, coming just a day after the faith’s president, Russell M. Nelson, died at age 101. “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection,” church spokesperson Doug Anderson said.

Neighbors, clergy, and striking hospital workers rushed to help first responders. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence, and local leaders held a prayer vigil Sunday evening. “We’re exhausted by the evil,” Pastor Chuck Lindsey told mourners. “But Lord, you are our refuge.”