The FBI is looking into the Michigan church shooting and fire as an incident of targeted violence.
Authorities have identified 40-year-old ex-Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford as the suspect in the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc. Allegedly, Sanford drove a pickup truck into the church during a crowded Sunday service, opened fire, and set the structure aflame.
Sanford, who was reportedly from Burton, a nearby small town, was killed by police after allegedly taking the lives of at least four people and injuring eight.
“At this moment, I can confirm the FBI has taken over the case and is looking into it as an incident of targeted violence,” stated Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, on Sunday.
A truck crashed into the building is seen amidst smoke as a firefighter attends to the scene at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sunday, September 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal )
More victims may be discovered as Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye informed reporters that search efforts continue throughout the church. According to The Associated Press, among the injured, one person was in critical condition on Sunday evening, while the remaining seven were stable.
Individuals holding candles attend a vigil for the church shooting at Holy Redeemer Church in Burton, Michigan, on Sunday, September 28, 2025. (Jose Juarez)
Sanford’s motive is not yet clear. Investigators were searching Sanford’s home, but authorities did not say what they found or provide any additional details about him, including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.
