GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MI — A Sunday morning worship service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy when a former U.S. Marine drove his vehicle into the chapel, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the building on fire—killing at least four people and injuring eight more.
The suspect, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, was fatally shot by law enforcement in the church parking lot just minutes after the attack began. Authorities describe the incident as “an act of targeted violence,” and the FBI has now taken the lead in the investigation.
The church, partially collapsed from the fire, remains an active scene as officials continue searching for potential additional victims in the debris.
Timeline of the Attack
At approximately 10:25 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, Grand Blanc Township police received a 911 call reporting that an armed man had crashed his vehicle into the side of the church building and was actively shooting inside.
The suspect, later confirmed to be Sanford, drove a pickup truck adorned with two American flags into the chapel where Sunday services were underway. He then entered the building with an assault rifle and opened fire on congregants. Simultaneously, he is believed to have started a fire that rapidly engulfed the structure.
NEW: Mormon church in Michigan is on fire following an active shooter incident, leaving multiple victims.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 28, 2025
The incident happened at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.
The shooter is reportedly down.pic.twitter.com/lmKdUIoeIv
Two law enforcement officers—one from Grand Blanc Township Police and one from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources—responded within 30 seconds of the initial call and engaged the suspect in the parking lot. Sanford was pronounced dead at 10:33 a.m., just eight minutes after the attack began.
Despite the swift police response, the toll was devastating.
Casualties and Ongoing Search
Initially, authorities confirmed two fatalities: one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and another later died at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital. By Sunday evening, officials announced that two additional bodies had been found in the remains of the collapsed church, bringing the confirmed death toll to four.
Eight other individuals sustained injuries, several of whom remain in critical condition. Police have not ruled out the possibility of more victims being discovered in the debris.
“The entire church has not been cleared because it’s a total loss due to the fire,” said Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. “We’re working tirelessly to find additional bodies. I don’t know how many people are unaccounted for at this time.”
Who Was Thomas Jacob “Jake” Sanford?
Sanford was a former U.S. Marine who served from 2004 to 2008, attaining the rank of sergeant. His service included a deployment to Fallujah, Iraq, during one of the most volatile periods of the U.S. military’s involvement in the region.
A graduate of Goodrich High School, Sanford returned to civilian life in Michigan, eventually working as a truck operator. In 2016, he purchased a home in Burton, where he lived with his family.
Sanford was the father of a son, Brantlee, who was diagnosed at birth with congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare disorder that causes the pancreas to produce excessive insulin.
The condition required multiple surgeries and prolonged hospital stays. In 2015, Sanford and his family organized two fundraising events at The River Church in Goodrich to help cover medical expenses. They also maintained a Facebook page documenting Brantlee’s medical journey and raising awareness about the rare disease.
Interviews and social media posts from the time show Sanford as a devoted father and outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed hunting and ice fishing. No motive for the attack has been established as of yet.
A Church Community in Mourning
The attack occurred at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse located on McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc, a township of roughly 7,700 residents about 60 miles northwest of Detroit. The congregation was mid-service when the violence unfolded.
Police and church members alike praised the swift action of worshippers who rushed to protect children and help others evacuate. “They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety,” said Chief Renye. “Just extreme courage, brave, and that’s the type of community that we are.”
In a statement, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
Federal Response and Investigation
The FBI has assumed control of the investigation, treating the attack as a targeted act of violence. Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit Field Office, confirmed that crisis response teams, SWAT units, bomb technicians, and victim specialists are working at the site.
“This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country,” Coleman said. “We are committed to finding out the facts, circumstances, and motives behind this tragedy.”
Authorities also reported finding three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) inside Sanford’s truck. No additional explosives have been discovered at the church site, but the presence of the devices has heightened the level of scrutiny.
The public is urged to report any relevant information by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or submitting tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
National Pattern: Third Mass Shooting in One Day
The Grand Blanc church attack was the 324th mass shooting in the United States in 2025, according to the Gun Violence Archive, and one of three mass shootings that occurred on the same day.
Just hours earlier in Southport, North Carolina, another 40-year-old Marine veteran of the Iraq War, Nigel Max Edge, opened fire from a boat at a waterfront bar, killing three and wounding five. Later that evening, a separate shooting at a casino in Eagle Pass, Texas left two dead and multiple injured.
The Salty Soldier will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as new information becomes available.
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