FBI Confirms Anti-Religious Motive in Michigan Church Attack

The FBI has confirmed that the September attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, was motivated by the assailant's anti-religious beliefs.

On September 28, 2025, Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old former U.S. Marine, drove his pickup truck into the church during a Sunday service attended by hundreds. He then opened fire on congregants and set the building ablaze using gasoline. The attack resulted in four deaths and eight injuries. Sanford was killed by law enforcement officers responding to the scene.

Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office, stated, "I am confirming this is a targeted act of violence believed to be motivated by the assailant's anti-religious beliefs against the Mormon religious community." The agency declined to share further information on what led to its conclusion.

The victims have been identified as Craig Hayden, William "Pat" Howard, John Bond, and Thelma Armstrong. The wounded ranged in age from 6 to 78, with all expected to recover.

In the aftermath, the community has shown resilience. Lisa Louis, who was in the chapel when her father, Hayden, was fatally shot, wrote in a letter that after looking into the shooter's eyes, she forgave him "with my heart."

Authorities continue to investigate the incident, focusing on Sanford's background and potential motives. Friends have indicated that Sanford harbored animosity toward the Mormon faith following a failed relationship with a member of the church.