what happened in michigan church

In September 2025, a tragic attack occurred at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly known as a Mormon church) in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. A 40-year-old suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, a veteran of the Iraq War, drove his vehicle into the church, then opened fire inside with an assault rifle during a service attended by hundreds of people. He also set fire to the church building. The shooting resulted in at least four fatalities and nine injuries. The suspect was shot and killed by police shortly after the attack. Emergency responders controlled the fire and evacuated the area. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and the FBI is assisting in a federal investigation. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence, as did President Donald Trump, who described it as a "horrendous" and despicable act of violence in a place of worship. This incident deeply shocked the community of Grand Blanc, a small township about 50 miles north of Detroit.