Sept. 28 (UPI) — A gunman drove his truck into a Michigan church on Sunday before opening fire on the hundreds of congregants and setting the building ablaze, according to authorities, who said the suspect has been “neutralized” by police.
Hundreds of people were attending services Sunday morning at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, located about 50 miles north of Ann Arbor, when the gunman — identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a Marine veteran from Burton — drove a vehicle into the building at about 10:25 a.m. EDT and opened fire with an assault-type weapon, local police said.
Police initially said two people were killed and that the suspect was fatally shot by police in the back parking lot of the church.
Authorities Sunday night updated the death toll to five, including the gunman, though an unspecified number of people remain unaccounted for. It was earlier announced that eight people had been injured.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters in a press conference that they are “working tirelessly” throughout the night looking for additional bodies trapped in the wreckage of the church, which he described as a “total loss due to the fire.”
He said they expect to find additional victims.
Of the four victims killed, two had been shot, he added.
Meanwhile, James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Detroit Field Division, confirmed during the Sunday night press conference that the suspect is believed to have ignited the church with gasoline. Suspected explosive devices were also found at the scene, but that authorities do not think they contributed to the blaze, he added.
A Michigan State Police spokesperson said during the press conference that officers were responding to calls of explosive devices at several other locations throughout the community.
Renye explained that officers were on scene within 30 seconds of receiving the 911 call and the gunman was “neutralized” within 8 minutes.
While showing appreciation to the first responders, he said he’d also like to acknowledge “the heroism” of those who were attending church that morning.
“They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety. Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith,” he said.
The FBI has taken lead on the investigation and was investigating it as an “act of targeted violence,” FBI Agent Ruben Coleman said.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement saying her “heart is breaking” for the Grand Blanc community.
“Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” she said, stating they are monitoring the situation.
Though no motive has been announced, President Donald Trump described the shooting as “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.”
“The Trump administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do,” he said in a statement published to his Truth Social media platform. “In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
Doug Anderson, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints, called the incident a “tragic act of violence.”
“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world,” Anderson said in a statement. “In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
