Tragic Michigan Church Shooting, On Sunday, September 28, 2025, a tragic mass shooting occurred at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, resulting in at least four fatalities and eight injuries. The assailant, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former U.S. Marine from nearby Burton, deliberately crashed his pickup truck into the church during a Sunday service, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the building ablaze. The attack unfolded rapidly, with law enforcement officers arriving within 30 seconds and fatally shooting Sanford in the parking lot approximately eight minutes after the incident began.
Sanford’s military background includes service in Iraq from 2004 to 2008, where he achieved the rank of sergeant. He was reportedly wounded during his deployment, and his vehicle bore an Iraq War veteran license plate at the time of the attack. Investigators are examining his home and digital records to determine a motive, as no clear connection to the church has been established.
Tragic Michigan Church Shooting Spot
The church, located in a community of approximately 7,700 residents about 60 miles northwest of Detroit, was filled with hundreds of congregants at the time of the attack. Witnesses described scenes of chaos and heroism as individuals assisted each other to safety. The FBI is leading the investigation, and authorities suspect there may be additional victims in the charred remains of the church.
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This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence involving military veterans. Just hours earlier, in Southport, North Carolina, another former Marine, Nigel Max Edge, opened fire from a boat into a waterfront bar, killing three people and injuring five others. Edge, who had served in Iraq and suffered severe injuries during his service, had previously filed lawsuits alleging mistreatment by the military.
The Grand Blanc Township church shooting has deeply affected the local faith community and prompted widespread condemnation from political leaders across the spectrum. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and former President Donald Trump both issued statements condemning the violence, with Trump suggesting it may have been a targeted attack against Christians. The incident has reignited national conversations about the safety of places of worship and the need for measures to prevent such tragedies.
As investigations continue, the community remains in mourning, grappling with the loss of life and the profound impact of this senseless act of violence.
