4 dead and 8 injured in church shooting and fire

The person accused in a fatal shooting and fire Sunday at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township is a 40-year-old area man with a military background.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, is from Burton, a city of nearly 30,000 people roughly 6 miles from Grand Blanc Township. Both are suburbs of Flint.

Thomas Jacob Sanford.

Officers killed Sanford in a parking lot behind the church, police said.

The FBI’s special agent in charge for the bureau's Detroit field office, Reuben Coleman, said Sunday night that the bureau is looking for a motive.

“The FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence,” he said.

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The FBI's Detroit field office is asking the public to submit tips that could help with the agency's investigation.

Tips can be reported to 1-800-CALL-FBI or at tips.fbi.gov.

The FBI is the lead agency on the investigation.

02:15

Members of the community of Grand Blanc Township recount the attack. The investigation continues.

Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, where the shooting took place, is a suburb roughly 7 miles south of Flint. 

The 36-square-mile township has a population of around 40,000 people, according to its website. It completely surrounds the city of Grand Blanc, which is less than 4 square miles and has a population of around 8,000, according to the 2020 census.

The township and the city cooperate in providing services to both communities.

People inside the church flung themselves into danger's way and shielded children as gunfire erupted this morning, Renye said. 

"They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety," he said. "Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith. Just extreme courage."

Renye said law enforcement officers were at the church within 30 seconds of receiving a 911 call. Within eight minutes, the suspected shooter had been "neutralized" in the back parking lot by a Department of Natural Resources officer and a Grand Blanc Township officer, he said.

First responders are working around the clock combing through the debris to find additional bodies, Renye said, noting crews are now "in recovery mode."

“We do know that there are some that are unaccounted for,” he said, though he couldn't provide exactly how many. The church is "a total loss due to the fire,” he said.

The suspect used an accelerant, believed to be gasoline, to set the blaze, said James Deir, the special agent in charge of the ATF’s Detroit Field Division.

He said some "suspected explosive devices" were found, but it’s not clear whether they were used to initiate the fire.

Fire and law enforcement officers outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday in Grand Blanc Township, Mich. Carlos Osorio / AP

Michigan State Police have been responding to additional bomb threats at different locations in the community, an official said at a news conference tonight.

Some of those threats were at churches and were cleared by state police, MSP spokeswoman Lt. Kim Vetter said.

“Please, continue to stay vigilant, and if you see something suspicious, say something," Vetter said.

The FBI is leading the investigation into this morning’s church shooting and is investigating the case “as an act of targeted violence,” said Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI's Detroit field office.

FBI investigating Michigan church shooting as 'act of targeted violence'

01:44

More bodies were discovered in the church, raising the total number of victims killed to four, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said at a news conference tonight. 

Two of them had gunshot wounds, he said. Including the suspect, there are "five deceased persons from this tragic incident," he said. 

Renye also praised the heroism of first responders, who he said were on the scene within 30 seconds of receiving the initial 911 call.

01:51

The suspect in the shooting served in the military from June 2004 to June 2008, according to the Marine Corps. 

He was an organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator and achieved the rank of sergeant, a corps spokesman said. Sanford was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2007 to March 2008. 

He earned several awards, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, the spokesman said.

His last assignment was in the 2nd Maintenance Battalion of Combat Logistics Regiment 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, according to the spokesman.

The suspect was confirmed to be Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from the city of Burton, officials said at a news conference.

Authorities received a call about the shooting at 10:25 a.m., and officers were on the scene mere seconds later, Renye said at a news conference.

Sanford "was neutralized at 10:33 a.m." in the parking lot of the church, he said.

Officials did not disclose a motive.

Seven victims are stable and one is in critical condition, Renye said at an evening news conference.

Two victims died in the shooting.

Michigan church shooting leaves 2 people dead, 8 injured

02:26

The suspect in this morning’s church shooting has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, according to a law enforcement source.

NBC affiliate WDIV of Detroit is at the scene as a large law enforcement presence gathers at what is believed to be the suspected shooter’s home, according to three senior U.S. law enforcement officials briefed on the matter.

Multiple victims injured in the shooting and the fire are being treated by Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, a hospital spokesperson said.

“Our hearts go out to our patients, their families, and the community—including the people worshipping when the tragic act of violence occurred,” the hospital said. “Our hospital is fully staffed with experienced caregivers, and we are grateful to our team members who continue to care for all our patients at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital.”

The hospital was on lockdown because of the active shooter situation earlier. The lockdown was lifted around 1 p.m. local time.

As many as three improvised devices were found at the scene, according to two senior U.S. law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation. However, the investigation is still in its early stages.

A police officer tapes off an area on the street in Grand Blanc, Mich., where Sunday's shooting took place. Emily Elconin / Getty Images

It’s not clear whether they are incendiary devices or explosive devices, according to the people who were briefed.

The investigation is more challenging because of the crash and the fire, the officials cautioned.

A second person has died in the shooting, police announced.

“There has been one more fatality due to gunshots. That person had died at a local hospital,” Renye said in a video on Facebook.

People seeking to reunify with family members at the church can call (248) 705-7352, which will connect callers to the Red Cross, which is on site and can locate loved ones.

Starting tomorrow through the rest of the week, locals can go into the police department for counseling services, Renye announced.

Today's shooting came just hours after Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died yesterday at 101.

Russell M. Nelson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in 2019. George Frey / Getty Images

Nelson died at his home in Salt Lake City, church spokesperson Candice Madsen said in a statement.

Nelson, a former heart surgeon, spent four decades in the highest levels of church leadership after he was selected in 1984 to join a top church governing body called the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He ascended to the presidency in January 2018 when Thomas S. Monson died and last year became the first president of the faith to hit the century mark.

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Officials will host a news conference at 5 p.m. ET.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson are expected to attend. Swanson's office said in a news release that they will offer updates on the investigation, as well as victim support services.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded to the news of the church attack by saying he will do more to protect places of worship.

He wrote on X that he has directed the state Department of Public Safety to form task forces with local and federal partners about the matter.

"The escalation of violent attacks against people and places of faith is heinous and must end," Abbott wrote.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said it is "in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected."

"We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families," church spokesperson Doug Andersen said in a statement.

Andersen said the church is "deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world."

"In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ," he said. "Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved."

President Donald Trump said on Truth Social he was briefed on the shooting.

"The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families," he wrote in the statement posted to Truth Social. "THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

Police believe the suspect who opened fire at the church also intentionally set it on fire.

"We are still trying to determine exactly when and where that fire ended up coming from and how it got started, so we believe it was deliberately set out by the suspect," Renye said at this afternoon's briefing.

A motive for the fire is still unclear.

Michigan suspect 'deliberately set' fire to church and opened fire during service

01:03

Renye said he believes there were people near the fire who may have been unable to escape.

"So, we do believe that we will find additional victims once we're able to search that, once there's no signs of a fire reigniting," he said.

Police identified the suspect in the church shooting and fire as a 40-year-old man from Burton.

According to Renye, the suspect drove his vehicle into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and began firing rounds at the hundreds of people who were attending Sunday service. The suspect used an assault rifle, police said.

At least one person was killed and 9 were injured in today's shooting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, according to authorities.

The suspect was also killed in the shooting, police confirmed.

A couple of the remaining victims are in critical condition while the rest are stable, according to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye.

Renye said he expects to find additional victims now that the fire at the church has been contained.

Drone video from Grand Blanc showed the massive fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Drone video shows Michigan church on fire after shooting

00:18

A large plume of rising black smoke could be seen flanked by orange flames. The fire has since been contained, according to police.

The fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is now contained, according to the Grand Blanc Township Police Department.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

"We do not have names of victims at his time," police said.

Joe Ostrander, 25, a lifelong Grand Blanc resident, was driving to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when he heard about the shooting and fire.

Massive flames and smoke rise from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Mich., on Sunday. Julie J, @Malkowski6April via X / AP

"I’ve never heard of anything like this ever happening in my city," Ostrander said.

He describes his hometown as "peaceful, quiet, small," and full of mom-and-pop shops.

"I’m completely distraught," he said.

The NYPD is deploying officers to religious institutions across the city "out of an abundance of caution" following reports of a shooting and fire at a church in Michigan today.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X that the city's officers would do the same, increasing patrols around places of worship.

"This type of violence is reprehensible and should have no place in our country," Bass wrote. "My heart is with the families impacted and the entire Grand Blanc community."

In a statement, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said her heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community, where a shooting and fire at a church has been reported with several victims

"Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable," Whitmer said in the statement. "I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly."

The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are responding to the LDS church where a shooting and fire have resulted in multiple victims, Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed.

"Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling," Bondi said in a statement.

The FBI will "provide any requested support necessary," FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said.

A fire remains active at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, according to Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson.

"The entire church is on fire," Swanson said in a video update, adding that the area is currently a dynamic scene.

Swanson confirmed that people who were at the church have been evacuated and that there are multiple victims. The scene is no longer a threat, he said.

"Just know that there's a lot of things that are happening that we are not able to communicate, just because of the work that needs to be done," he said.

Video taken in Genesee County, Michigan, this morning shows a large plume of black smoke rising from the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.

Police said there's an active fire at the church.

Rep. John James, R-Mich., said he is "horrified" about reports of a shooting and fire at a Grand Blanc church.

"On this Sunday, a day meant for worship and peace, such violence is a grave evil," James wrote on X. "Our prayers are with the victims, their families, and the entire community."

Police confirmed this morning that there was a shooting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Genesee County, Michigan.

The church is also actively on fire, according to the Grand Blanc Township Police Department.

"There are multiple victims and the shooter is down," police said. "There is NO threat to the public at this time."

It's not immediately clear whether the shooter is dead or in custody.

Police encouraged residents to avoid the area.