A shooter and arsonist killed at least four people and injured eight others at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sunday morning. Police identified the suspect as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford from nearby Burton, Michigan. Sanford was shot and killed by police.
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Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said just before 10:30 a.m., Sanford drove his car into the church. After the crash, he jumped out of the car, used gasoline to set the church on fire, then began shooting. Two people were killed by gunfire. The remains of two people were found in the church following the fire. One shooting victim is in critical condition. The remaining victims are listed as stable. Police responded to the shooting within seconds of the incident, Renye said.
Authorities said there are still people unaccounted for.
“The entire church has not been cleared because it’s a total loss due to the fire. So these first responders right now, they’re in recovery mode. They’re trying to fight throughout the debris from the fire,” Renye said.
Investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said improvised explosive devices were found at the scene but were not detonated with the initial fire. Michigan State Police Specialist Lt. Kim Vetter said bomb threats began filtering in after the shooting.
“We received 911 calls about bomb threats or other indications that there was a bomb at a different location,” Vetter said. “Some of them were churches, and we responded and cleared those locations.”
The fire that was started by the suspect has since been extinguished, police said. As authorities investigate what is left of the building, they expect to find more victims who were unable to escape the fire.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said she has been briefed about the situation. FBI Director Kash Patel added, “Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act. Our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy.”
Renye confirmed services were underway when the incident began, with hundreds of people in the church.
“Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said.
