All victims accounted for; 4 dead, 8 injured after Grand Blanc Latter‑day Saints church shooting and fire
Michigan authorities confirmed all victims have been accounted for after a gunman rammed a truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Grand Blanc during Sunday worship, opened fire as the building was set ablaze, and was later found down with no ongoing public threat. The updated toll is four dead and eight injured, and officials identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford.
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🔍 Key Facts
- An active-shooter incident and fire occurred at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4825 McCandlish Rd., Grand Blanc, Michigan, when the attacker rammed his truck into the meetinghouse and opened fire during Sunday worship.
- Law enforcement said the shooter was 'down' at the scene, the area was evacuated, federal authorities responded, and a reunification site was established; officials reported there was no ongoing public threat.
- The shooter has been identified in reporting as Thomas Jacob Sanford; eyewitnesses described him exiting a truck with an assault-style rifle and firing from roughly 10–20 yards, with bullets shattering glass and shrapnel striking worshippers.
- Officials later confirmed all victims were accounted for: 4 people killed and 8 injured.
- Early, conflicting casualty tallies were reported by various outlets (including initial reports of 1 dead and as many as 9 injured or at least 2 dead), but authorities subsequently updated the total to 4 dead and 8 injured.
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement mourning the community, and local churches in Grand Blanc immediately tightened security — locking doors, requiring buzzer entry or posted congregants at entrances — and offered support and facilities to the LDS congregation.
- Reporting includes survivor accounts and context on the suspect: a survivor (Lisa Louis) described forgiving the attacker and may have bought time for others to escape; acquaintances and public records described aspects of the suspect's life and activities, and ABC noted a prior interaction between the suspect and another church regarding his son’s baptism on Sept. 21.
📍 Contextual Background
- Officers were on scene within 30 seconds of a 911 call, and two officers pursued the attacker after he left the church and fatally shot him about eight minutes later in an exchange of gunfire.
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, described the incident as an act of targeted violence, and sent about 100 federal agents to Grand Blanc Township.
- Grand Blanc Township is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northwest of Detroit and is located just south of Flint, Michigan.
- Law enforcement agencies respond to active shooter incidents and may engage and neutralize suspects at the scene.
- The attacker was identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, who had served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008, including seven months in Iraq focused on vehicle operations and maintenance, and was discharged at the rank of sergeant.
📰 Sources (13)
Woman who was confronted by Michigan church gunman says she instantly forgave him for killing dad
New information:
- Personal, attributable survivor narrative (Lisa Louis) describing forgiveness and perception of the shooter's emotional state.
- Family perspective: brother‑in‑law Terry Green said Louis' interaction may have bought time for others to escape.
- Specific anecdote about the shooter's prior interaction with another church regarding his son's baptism on Sept. 21.
Michigan churches lock doors, post guards after deadly attack rocks Grand Blanc community
New information:
- Local congregations in Grand Blanc (Faith Lutheran, St. Christopher's Episcopal) have immediately changed security policies — Faith Lutheran now locks doors permanently, requires buzzer entry and posts two men at every door during services.
- St. Christopher's Episcopal has locked its doors 24 hours a day and assigned trusted congregants to stand at entrances rather than hiring paid armed guards; its pastor said he refuses to pay for armed security.
- Pastors report direct contact with the LDS community offering facilities and community support; specific quotes from Rev. Jeffrey Heimsoth and Rev. Jerry Lasley detail these measures and community outreach.
All victims accounted for, 4 dead after Michigan church shooting and fire, officials say
New information:
- Officials say all victims have been accounted for
- Updated casualty totals reported as 4 dead and 8 injured (article)
- Official update provided by Michigan authorities on Monday following Sunday's attack
Latest details on Michigan LDS church shooting that killed at least 4
New information:
- Updated reported death toll of at least four people killed
- Explicit description that the gunman 'rammed his truck into a Michigan church and opened fire during worship services' (vehicle ramming plus active shooting)
What We Know About the Suspect in the Michigan Church Shooting
New information:
- Provides named identification of the shooter as Thomas Jacob Sanford with corroborating service records and life history.
- Supplies additional on‑the‑record human sources (former roommate, classmates, neighbors) and descriptive color about suspect's activities (hunting, snow‑plowing for neighbors).
At least 2 killed in Michigan LDS Church shooting
New information:
- Provides a concrete injured count: eight people were reported injured.
- Confirms at least two fatalities during the Sunday morning service.
- CBS News video report as a corroborating broadcast source (reporter Shanelle Kaul).
News Wrap: At least 2 killed in shooting and fire at Michigan church
New information:
- PBS reports the Michigan church attack left 'at least two' people dead (updates casualty count).
- PBS confirms the church was left in flames in reporting of the incident.
‘Extreme Fear’: Witnesses Describe Scene at Michigan Church Engulfed by Fire
New information:
- Multiple named eyewitness accounts describing the shooter exiting a truck with an assault‑style rifle and beginning to shoot from about 10–20 yards away.
- On‑scene observations of the meeting house burning and yellow tarps covering several shapes that witnesses said appeared to be bodies.
- A worshipper (Paul Kirby) reported a bullet through a glass door and a piece of shrapnel striking his leg; his family loaded fleeing people into their car while two people lay on the ground.
A list of notable shooting attacks on houses of worship in the US in the past 20 years
New information:
- Provides broader historical context by listing notable past U.S. shootings at houses of worship and their dates/casualty counts
At least 1 killed, others seriously hurt in Michigan church shooting | Special Report
New information:
- CBS News reports an official update confirming at least one person was killed.
- CBS News reports others are in critical condition following the shooting.
- The story includes an official on-camera update followed by CBS reporting from Anna Schecter (video source attribution).
Police say 1 person dead and 9 injured in shooting at Michigan church
New information:
- Police report that 1 person is dead and 9 others were injured in the Grand Blanc, Michigan church shooting.
- Article is an Associated Press wire brief published Sept. 28, 2025 confirming the casualty tally and location.
Multiple people shot at Mormon church in Michigan and shooter is down, police say
New information:
- Law enforcement say the shooter is down (no ongoing public threat reported).
- Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said 'The entire church is on fire.'
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued a statement mourning the community; area evacuated and federal authorities present.
Multiple victims reported in shooting at Grand Blanc church
New information:
- Active-shooter incident at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4825 McCandlish Rd., Grand Blanc, Michigan
- Police Facebook post (11:12 a.m.) said 'multiple victims' and that the shooter 'is down' and there is no active threat
- The church was reported 'actively' on fire and a reunification site was set up at a nearby pavilion; victim conditions have not been disclosed