Liputan6.com, Jakarta A tragic incident rocked Grand Blanc, Michigan, United States, on Sunday, September 28, 2025, when a church was targeted by a shooting and arson attack.
This tragic incident happened at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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The perpetrator, later identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, launched his attack by smashing his truck into the church door while hundreds of congregants were in worship.
He then opened fire on the church congregation before being killed in a shootout with police.
This brutal attack resulted in at least four deaths and eight others injuries, as reported by Al Jazeera.
How the Brutal Attack in Grand Blanc Happened
The Michigan Church Shooting incident began around 10:25 a.m. local time, when an emergency call was received regarding a shooting at a church located on McCandlish Road.
Just minutes later, around 10:30 a.m., Thomas Jacob Sanford launched his attack by ramming his pickup truck, adorned with two American flags, through the front door of the church.
Hundreds of congregants were gathered for Sunday service at the time.
After ramming his vehicle, the perpetrator exited the truck and began shooting at the congregation with an assault rifle.
Investigators suspect Sanford also intentionally set the church building on fire using fuel, possibly gasoline, and found an explosive device at the scene.
Police officers arrived on the scene less than a minute after the emergency call.
Within three minutes, around 10:33 a.m., Sanford was killed in a shootout with two police officers in the church parking lot, ending the Michigan Church Shooting terror.
"All indications on this investigation are the suspect used an accelerant of some sort, we believe gasoline, and lit the church on fire," James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Detroit office said during a Sunday evening press conference.
Deir said authorities also found "suspected" explosive devices.
Thomas Jacob Sanford: The Identity and Background
The perpetrator of the Michigan Church Shooting has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from Burton, Michigan.
Initial information indicates that Sanford graduated from Goodrich High School in the class of 2003.
Furthermore, Sanford is known to be a former Marine who served for three and a half years, from 2004 to 2008.
He was also deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2007 to March 2008, adding to the mystery behind his motives.
The media also highlighted that Sanford's truck had Iraq War license plates, and a 2007 article in the Clarkston News mentioned that he came from a military family.
Number of Victims and Damage
The Michigan Church Shooting incident claimed a significant number of lives.
Initially, at least four people were killed at the scene and eight others were injured, with one victim in critical condition and seven others in stable condition.
After the fire was extinguished, rescuers discovered two more victims among the charred remains of the church.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise, as rescuers continued to comb through the rubble.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc was declared a "total loss" due to the combination of the fire and the mass shooting.
Investigation and National Reaction to the Tragedy
To date, the motive behind the Michigan church shooting by Thomas Jacob Sanford remains unclear and is under investigation but the FBI has stated that the incident was a "targeted attack."
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a post on X that her "heart is breaking" for the Grand Blanc community.
"Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable," she added.
US President Donald Trump also said he had been briefed on the "horrific" shooting and pledged his "full support" for the investigation.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that FBI agents were on the scene to assist in the investigation.
“Violence in a place of worship is a cowardly and criminal act. Our prayers are with the victims and their families during this terrible tragedy,” he said.
The incident occurred a day after the death of Russell M. Nelson, the oldest president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and marked the 324th mass shooting in the US in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive, highlighting the country's gun violence crisis.