Four Dead in Michigan Church Shooting; Suspect Identified as Former Marine

A mass shooting occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sunday, resulting in four fatalities and eight injuries. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was killed during an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.

Authorities reported that Sanford drove his vehicle into the church building during a service, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the structure ablaze using gasoline. The fire led to a partial collapse of the chapel. Three improvised explosive devices were discovered in Sanford's vehicle. The FBI is treating the incident as an "act of targeted violence."

Sanford, a Burton, Michigan resident, served as a mechanic and vehicle recovery operator in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008, including a deployment to Iraq. He was a graduate of Goodrich High School and later worked as a truck operator. Sanford was married and had a son born with a rare medical condition. In a 2016 interview, he described the experience as "a nightmare for us."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints expressed condolences, stating, "Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved."

This incident marks the 324th mass shooting in the United States in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It occurred shortly after a similar event in Southport, North Carolina, where another 40-year-old Marine veteran was involved in a shooting that resulted in three deaths and five injuries.