{"id":96248,"date":"2025-09-29T05:03:00","date_gmt":"2025-09-29T05:03:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=96248"},"modified":"2025-09-29T05:03:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-29T05:03:00","slug":"four-killed-in-shooting-and-arson-attack-at-mormon-church-in-michigan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=96248","title":{"rendered":"Four killed in shooting and arson attack at Mormon church in Michigan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At least four people have been killed and eight others injured after a gunman drove a vehicle into a Michigan church, opened fire and set the building ablaze, police say.<\/p>\n

Officials said the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, a town 60 miles (100km) northwest of Detroit, happened during a Sunday service attended by hundreds of people.<\/p>\n

The suspect, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from Burton, Michigan, was later shot dead by police in the church car park.<\/p>\n

Authorities are investigating the incident as an \u201cact of targeted violence\u201d, but say the motive remains unclear.<\/p>\n

Two victims died from gunshot wounds, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told a news conference on Sunday.<\/p>\n

He later said two more people had been found dead and \u201csome\u201d others remained unaccounted for, though he could not say how many. The church was still being \u201ccleared\u201d on Sunday night after suffering extensive fire damage, he said.<\/p>\n

Chief Renye said \u201chundreds\u201d of people were attending services at about 10:25 local time (15:25 GMT) when a gunman drove a vehicle into the building.<\/p>\n

The attacker then opened fire with an assault-style rifle, \u201cfiring several rounds at individuals within the church,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The police responded immediately to the scene, he said, adding officers \u201cengaged in gunfire with that particular individual, neutralising that suspect\u201d. Sanford was killed at 10:33 local time, eight minutes after the shooting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are still trying to determine exactly when and where the fire ended up coming from and how it got started,\u201d the police chief said.<\/p>\n

The suspect had used an accelerant \u2013 most likely gasoline \u2013 to start the blaze, authorities said.<\/p>\n

Chief Renye also praised the \u201cheroism\u201d of churchgoers who he said had sheltered children in the church during the incident.<\/p>\n

Investigators are conducting a search of the suspect\u2019s property and examining his cell-phone records as they work to establish a motive.<\/p>\n

Records show Sanford was a Marine Corps veteran, the BBC\u2019s US partner CBS reported.<\/p>\n

The FBI is leading the investigation and has deployed crisis response teams, bomb technicians and others to the scene, according to Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI\u2019s Detroit field office.<\/p>\n

Michigan State Police spokeswoman Kim Vetter told reporters that officers have been responding to additional bomb threats at multiple other locations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve responded and cleared those locations,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

In a statement,\u00a0the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints\u00a0confirmed a gunman opened fire during worship services, and \u201cmultiple individuals were injured\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe pray for peace and healing for all involved,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

Grand Blanc police said that 100 FBI agents have been deployed to assist with the investigation.<\/p>\n

President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting, and confirmed the FBI will be leading the federal investigation.<\/p>\n

Writing on Truth Social, he described it as \u201cyet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America\u201d.<\/p>\n

US Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X that she had received briefings on \u201cwhat appears to be a horrific shooting and fire\u201d at the church.<\/p>\n

\u201cSuch violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling,\u201d Bondi said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the incident, saying: \u201cViolence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,\u201d adding that she was monitoring the situation.<\/p>\n

Mitt Romney, former US senator for Utah and one of the most prominent Mormon politicians, called the shooting a \u201ctragedy\u201d, adding: \u201cMy brothers and sisters and their church are targets of violence. Praying for healing and comforting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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