A tragic mass shooting occurred Sunday at a Latter-day Saints church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, where four people were killed and eight others injured. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Monday that the shooter, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, appeared to have targeted Mormons specifically, citing religious hatred as the motive. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the suspect’s bias against members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sanford, a former Marine from Burton, Michigan, crashed his pickup truck—adorned with American flags and deer antlers—into the church’s entrance around 10:25 a.m. He then opened fire with an assault-style rifle on the hundreds of congregants inside. Authorities said Sanford was killed in a shootout with local and state officers just eight minutes after the attack began.
The shooting was followed by a devastating fire that engulfed the church. Officials confirmed two victims were shot dead and found two more bodies inside the burned building. Emergency crews halted recovery efforts Sunday night due to structural instability but planned to resume work early Monday. The death toll may rise, as several individuals remain unaccounted for.
Investigators also recovered suspected explosive devices from the scene and believe gasoline was used to start the blaze. James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said the scene presented both fire and explosives hazards, further complicating the investigation.
Eight victims remain hospitalized, including at least one child in critical condition. The motive appears to stem from deep-seated religious animosity, but investigators are still examining whether the attack was premeditated and if Sanford left behind any communications or a manifesto.
The violent incident shocked the local community and has raised national concerns about religiously motivated attacks. Law enforcement continues to work closely with federal agencies to uncover more details and assess any broader threat.
