By: Fox News - Stephen Sorace - 29 September 2025

A Sunday service in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, turned into a nightmare when a gunman rammed his vehicle into a church, set the building on fire, and opened fire on congregants. At least four people have died, multiple others were critically injured, and authorities are still investigating the attack.

FBI believes Michigan church shooter 'hated people of the Mormon faith,' Leavitt says

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed new details about the gunman who killed at least four people and injured several others during a crowded Sunday service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Michigan.

Leavitt told “FOX & Friends” on Monday morning that, through conversations with FBI Director Kash Patel, she has learned that Marine veteran Thomas Jacob Sanford harbored a hatred for people of the Mormon faith.

“From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note, all of those questions have yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI,” she said.

The FBI is currently executing multiple search warrants at Sanford’s homes “to get the bottom of why he would commit such an act of evil,” according to Leavitt.

Leavitt added that the gunman’s family is cooperating with the FBI.

Sanford plowed a pickup into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, opened fire and set the building ablaze. He was killed after engaging with responding law enforcement officers.

Authorities are searching the building ruins for more victims.

28 min(s) ago

Officials to hold press conference on church shooting at 12:30 p.m. ET

Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)

The Grand Blanc Township Police Department announced a press conference will be held at 12:30 p.m. Monday. 

Federal and local agencies are expected to provide updates on Sunday’s deadly shooting and fire that happened at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.

1 hour ago

FBI investigating Michigan church shooting as 'targeted' violence; some worshippers unaccounted for The FBI is looking into the Michigan church shooting and fire as an incident of targeted violence.  

Authorities identified ex-Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, as the suspect who allegedly smashed a pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, opened fire and set the building ablaze during a crowded Sunday service. 

"I can confirm at this time that the FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence," Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of FBI Detroit Field Office, said on Sunday.  

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters more victims could be found as searchers made their way through the entire church.  

1 hour ago

Officials expecting to deliver update after morning command meeting

Exterior of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025 in Grand Blanc Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Officials in Michigan said authorities held a morning command meeting and are expecting to deliver an update later Monday on the deadly shooting and fire that happened at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.

The Grand Blanc Township Police Department shared the update at around 9:15 a.m. ET in a Facebook post.

The department said that portion of McCandlish Road, along which the church is located, remains closed for investigators and necessary equipment. Those who still have vehicles in the church parking lot may be able to retrieve them later this afternoon.

Officials have said that at least four people were killed. Seven others were injured and were in stable condition while an eighth injured person remains in critical condition. Two victims were killed by gunfire; two others were found after the fire.

Officials are still searching the ruins of the scorched church building for more victims. Police have not released the number of people still believed to be unaccounted for.

3 hour(s) ago

Who is Thomas Jacob Sanford? What we know about the suspected Michigan church gunman

Thomas Jacob Sanford was named by authorities as the man who rammed a Chevy Silverado truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday before opening fire on the hundreds of worshipers gathered there. (Facebook / Tella Sanford)

The man police identified as the gunman who killed at least four people and injured several others during services at a Michigan Mormon church on Sunday before setting the building on fire is a 40-year-old Marine veteran who served in Iraq.

Thomas Jacob Sanford was named by authorities as the man who rammed a Chevy Silverado truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, before opening fire on the hundreds of worshipers gathered there. 

Sanford then allegedly set the building on fire before being killed by responding officers. Police said they believe Sanford used an accelerant, likely gasoline, to start the fire.

This is an excerpt from an article by Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano. To read more, click here.

3 hour(s) ago

Worshippers shielded children during shooting, police chief says

Grand Blanc Township Chief of Police William Renye and law enforcement officers address the media after a shooting and fire the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc Township, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Some of the hundreds of congregants inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints helped shield the children during the shooting, authorities said.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the heroism of not only the first responders, but the people who were inside that church at the time,” Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye.

“They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety," he added.

3 hour(s) ago

Michigan LDS church shooter tied to 2007 hometown profile as Marine 'on the move'

Fire and law enforcement officers stand outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 in Grand Blanc, Mich; Suspect Jacob Sanford. (AP; Facebook/Tella Sanford)

A 2007 Clarkston News article described then-22-year-old Thomas “Jake” Sanford, an Atlas Township/Goodrich High School alum, as a Marine sergeant preparing to deploy to Fallujah, with a proud family behind him.

“I’m excited to go … I’ll return with the real news of the situation,” Sanford said, while his father added, “We are very proud of him.”

The article also quotes Sanford’s father as describing his son as “a homegrown kid who misses his family when he’s gone … Jake’s going voluntarily and plans on returning to this community when his service is over. We are very proud of him.”

Sanford rammed a pickup into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church during Sunday services before opening fire and then setting the building ablaze.

The attack killed at least four and injured eight before he was shot and killed by officers responding to the incident.

Posted by Christina Shaw.