What We Know: The Tragic Attack at a Michigan Church

What We Know About the Shooting and Fire at a Michigan Church

By Naeem Sep 29, 2025

It's heartbreaking to see such a peaceful place become a scene of violence. A man attacked a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, resulting in at least four deaths and several injuries.

The attacker, later identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old from nearby Burton, Michigan, crashed a car into the church building, set it on fire, and then opened fire on the congregation during Sunday services. Authorities say eight people were wounded, and one remains in critical condition. Law enforcement responded to the scene within minutes, and a shootout with Sanford ended with his death just eight minutes after the initial report. Investigators believe the fire was intentionally set with an accelerant like gasoline, and they also found three homemade explosives at the scene. The motive for the attack is still unknown, and the FBI has launched an inquiry, calling the event "an act of targeted violence."

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What We Know About the Attacker

Thomas Jacob Sanford, who also went by Jake, used an assault-style rifle in the attack. He was a veteran who served four years in the Marines, including a deployment to Iraq in 2007. Neighbors remembered him as a quiet and generous person, with one even recalling how he would clear driveways in the winter for free. According to court records, he was married and had a 10-year-old son.

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About the Church and the Investigation

The attacked congregation is part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which is based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The building was considered a total loss due to the fire. Church members were in the middle of their two-hour Sunday service when the attack began. The investigation is ongoing, with federal agents and emergency responders searching through the wreckage of the church. Officials believe there may be more victims in the rubble, but no names have been released yet. The attack adds to a concerning trend of violence against religious institutions in the United States, following similar tragic events in Minneapolis and Lexington, Kentucky, in recent months.