At Least 4 Dead, 8 Injured in Michigan Church Shooting and Fire

A Sunday worship service at a Mormon church in Michigan turned into tragedy when a gunman stormed the building, opened fire, and set it ablaze, killing at least four people and wounding eight others, authorities confirmed.

The attack occurred shortly after 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles northwest of Detroit. Witnesses said the assailant rammed his pickup truck into the church before unleashing gunfire on congregants.

Police said the gunman, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, was killed in a shootout with responding officers just eight minutes after the first 911 call. Investigators also discovered suspected explosive devices inside the church and later deployed bomb squads to search Sanford’s home.

“This is a devastating day for Grand Blanc,” said Grand Blanc Township Police Chief Ron Wiles. “We lost lives in a place where people came to find peace and comfort. The quick response of law enforcement prevented further bloodshed.”

Among the casualties, some victims were fatally shot, while others were found inside the burned structure once firefighters extinguished the flames. Authorities cautioned that additional victims may still be unaccounted for as search teams sift through the wreckage. One person remains in critical condition.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the violence, calling it “unacceptable.” “My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” she said in a statement, praising first responders for their swift action.

Federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, have joined the investigation. Officials are working to determine a motive but currently believe Sanford acted alone.

The attack has shaken members of the LDS church nationwide, coming just one day after the death of Russell M. Nelson, the 101-year-old president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Representative John James, a Michigan Republican, described himself as “horrified” by the tragedy. “On this Sunday, a day meant for worship and peace, such violence is a grave evil,” he said.

Authorities continue to investigate and have not released the names of the victims pending family notification.

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