what happened in grand blanc

On September 28, 2025, a mass shooting occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a veteran of the Iraq War and former Marine from Burton, drove his pickup truck into the church building, intentionally setting it on fire. After crashing the vehicle through the front doors, he began firing shots with an assault rifle at the people present during the Sunday service. The attack resulted in at least 5 deaths including the shooter, and 8 other people were injured. Some victims died from gunshot wounds and others were found dead in the aftermath of the fire that engulfed the church, which was declared a total loss. The suspect was killed in a gunfire exchange with police shortly after the attack. Authorities continue to investigate the motive and the extent of victims, with the FBI involved in the ongoing investigation. The community and officials have expressed sorrow and condemned the violence, noting the sacred nature of the space targeted in the attack.