Authorities in Michigan are still piecing together why a man carried out a shocking attack at a church on Sunday that left four people dead and eight others injured.
Police say the suspect, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, opened fire on worshippers, and then set the building on fire. He was later shot and killed by officers in the church parking lot.
Hundreds of people had gathered for services at the time, but officials confirmed on Monday that everyone had been accounted for.
At a news conference, Governor Gretchen Whitmer urged patience as investigators work to understand Sanford’s motives. “It’s natural to want answers right away,” she said, “but speculation is not helpful and can even be dangerous.”
The FBI has interviewed more than 100 people so far, combing through Sanford’s phone records and searching his home. Investigators are trying to determine how carefully planned the attack was and whether he left behind any messages explaining his actions.
Officials have described the incident as a “targeted act of violence,” though they have not shared whether Sanford had any personal ties to the church.
Authorities also confirmed that Sanford used an accelerant, likely gasoline, to ignite the fire. Two victims were discovered dead from gunshot wounds, while two more were found inside the burned building during police searches. The victims’ names have not yet been released.
Sanford, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, is now the focus of a major federal investigation. The FBI has deployed crisis response teams, bomb experts, and more than 100 agents to support local law enforcement.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement expressing sorrow and calling for peace: “We pray for healing for all involved.”
National leaders also responded. President Donald Trump called it “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States.” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi described it as “heartbreaking and chilling,” while Mitt Romney, one of the country’s most prominent Mormon figures, called it a tragedy and urged prayers for those affected.
For now, investigators continue to search for what drove Sanford to unleash violence on a place of worship—a question that still has no clear answer. Photo by Chad James L Fournier, Wikimedia commons.
