In the quiet suburb of Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, no one could have predicted that a Sunday morning meant for worship would turn into a scene of horror and mystery.
Neighbors recalled seeing a vehicle draped with American flags circling the area hours before the attack, while others spoke of a man whose once-decorated military past had twisted into something darker.
By the time smoke began pouring from the roof of the Mormon church, it was already too late—the sanctuary had become the stage for one of the most chilling and calculated assaults the town had ever witnessed.
Authorities are now asking: was this an act of spontaneous rage, or the result of a plan carefully set in motion long before the first shot rang out?
Another mass shooting has once again shaken the United States, leaving at least five people dead—including the suspected attacker—and injuring more than eight others, according to Michigan authorities.
The shocking events unfolded on Sunday morning around 10:25 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. What began as a routine Sunday service quickly turned into a nightmare of violence and flames. Witnesses and early reports describe scenes of chaos as a column of thick black smoke rose from the building, its roof consumed by fire.
Officials later identified the gunman as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former U.S. Marine who served from 2004 to 2008 and was deployed to Iraq. Sanford was killed by responding officers after launching his deadly assault.
According to harrowing reports, he allegedly rammed a vehicle—bearing two American flags—through the church doors before opening fire with an assault rifle on terrified congregants.
Once inside, Sanford continued his rampage before deliberately igniting a blaze using gasoline, said James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Detroit Field Division. The fire was eventually brought under control, but investigators believe more victims could still be found in the charred remains of the building.
By Sunday evening, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed the recovery of two additional bodies from the ruins, adding to the two victims already known to have died from gunshot wounds. “Ten gunshot victims have been transported to local hospitals at this time, including one who has been confirmed deceased,” Chief Renye explained, while noting that law enforcement arrived on the scene within 30 seconds of the first 911 call.
Details about Sanford’s personal life have also begun to emerge. According to the New York Post, Sanford was married and the father of a young boy suffering from congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare medical condition that causes excessive insulin production. A GoFundMe campaign had previously been launched to help the family cover medical expenses, raising just over $3,000 before the tragedy.
BREAKING from US: A man drove his truck into a Mormon Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, opened fire on the congregation, and set the church on fire. One person is dead, at least nine injured,& several remain missing with more victims feared. Attacker down pic.twitter.com/zIRFZ1an7p
— Spicy Sonal (@ichkipichki) September 29, 2025
As the community grieves, the devastation left behind extends far beyond the church walls. Families of the victims, parishioners, and even first responders are grappling with the magnitude of the atrocity.
Thoughts and prayers now turn toward those whose lives were cut short, the survivors left injured, and the families shattered in the wake of another act of senseless violence.
The tragedy in Grand Blanc Township has left a lasting scar on both the community and the nation, serving as yet another grim reminder of the vulnerability of sacred spaces and the unpredictable nature of modern violence.
While investigators continue piecing together what led Thomas Jacob Sanford—a Marine veteran, husband, and father—to unleash such devastation, the focus now turns to the victims and their families, whose lives have been irreversibly altered.
As vigils are planned and prayers are lifted, the echoes of grief are joined by urgent calls for answers, accountability, and change.
What remains clear is that the fire and gunshots that tore through a Michigan church on an ordinary Sunday morning will not soon be forgotten, becoming yet another chapter in a heartbreaking cycle of loss that continues to haunt America.