Michigan shooting: Police investigate motive for church attack
The Michigan church shooting that occurred on Sunday morning, September 28, in Grand Blanc, left two people dead and eight injured. The perpetrator was identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old resident of Burton, a nearby town.
According to Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye, the incident began at 10:25 a.m. when Sanford crashed his car into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building. He immediately started a fire and opened fire on worshippers.
According to the latest report, two people were killed and eight were injured, one in critical condition and the rest hospitalized in stable condition. The assailant died after an exchange of gunfire in the church parking lot, when he was confronted by two officers, one from the Department of Natural Resources and one from the local police force.
Michigan Shooting: Authorities and Emergency Operations
The emergency response was immediate: the first patrols arrived in less than ten minutes. According to Renye, "the suspect was neutralized within the building itself before he could cause further damage."
The magnitude of the fire prompted the declaration of a fifth alarm. Firefighters reported a risk of partial collapse of the temple as they attempted to control the flames.
The investigation involves the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The investigations are seeking to determine if there are more victims under the rubble and to clarify the motives behind the attack.
Michigan Shooting: Community in Shock
Grand Blanc, a city of about 8,000 people near Flint, was shaken by the incident. Streets in the area were closed, and authorities set up reunification points at a community pavilion and the Trillium Theater to assist family members and witnesses.
NBC News reported that Sanford's home in Burton was also surrounded by police as part of the investigation. No details have yet been released about his ties to the church or any personal history that could explain the attack.
👉 The Michigan church shooting is being investigated as an intentional act, which included both the burning of the church and the armed attack. The shock in the community reflects the impact of an unexpected act of violence in a religious space that until now had been considered safe.
The attack in Grand Blanc has rekindled the discussion about gun violence in the United States, a phenomenon that impacts both large cities and small communities. According to data from the Gun Violence Archive , more than 500 mass shootings have been recorded in the country so far this year, a figure that is worrying local and federal authorities.
Michigan, in particular, has been the scene of several such episodes in recent years. In 2021, a shooting at Oxford High School left four students dead and once again brought the state's gun control policies into the spotlight.
In the Grand Blanc case, authorities are working not only to identify possible accomplices or the attacker's motives, but also to provide psychological and social support for the victims and their families. Local community organizations reported that support services are being coordinated in religious centers and neighborhood spaces, with the goal of supporting those who witnessed the attack.
The investigation continues under the direction of the FBI, which is seeking to determine whether Sanford acted alone or had ties to an extremist group. Meanwhile, the community of Grand Blanc is trying to regain calm after an event that profoundly affected the daily lives of its residents.
