Thomas Jacob Sanford, an ex-Marine, smashed his pickup truck into a Mormon Church on Sunday, September 28, 2025, in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, while service was being conducted. He opened fire on the unsuspecting church members and set the building ablaze before being shot by police. He killed at least four people and critically injured eight others. 

Attack on Mormons’ Sunday Service

The attack on the Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m., with hundreds of people attending their weekly Sunday service. Responding officers were there within 30 seconds of being called. It took place just outside of Flint in Grand Blanc Township, just a town over from the gunman’s home in Burton. Authorities were able to quickly identify the shooter as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford.

Police Chief William Renye reported that Sanford got out of his pickup with two American flags raised in the truck bed and opened fire. People inside the church said they shielded the children and were able to move them to a safer spot until help came. After officers arrived, they began pursuing the shooter, leading to gunfire and resulting in the shooter’s death eight minutes later. 

In the midst of the chaos, Sanford was able to set the Mormon church on fire for hours before it was extinguished. James Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, explained that the fire was started by gas and that there were explosive devices, but they are still unsure if they were used. Two bodies were found in the debris, one of which was in critical condition, but seven other wounded individuals were listed in stable condition. Renye reported some people are unaccounted for but did not give a specific number.

The Investigation

The FBI is leading the investigation into the targeted act of violence on the Mormon Church. According to Lieutenant Kim Vetter of the Michigan State Police, several bomb threats were made at other churches in the area following the shootout that killed Sanford. Police investigated those threats and found them to be hoaxes.

Sanford’s motive remains unclear. Investigators searched his residence but did not share with the media what they found or any additional details. At this time, we do not know if he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly known as the Mormon Church. All we know is that he served in the Marines for four years from June 2004 until June 2008 as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator. He was deployed to Iraq, serving as a sergeant from August 2007 through March 2008.

The FBI’s Detroit field office is asking the public to submit tips that could help with the agency’s investigation. Tips can be reported to 1-800-CALL-FBI or at tips.fbi.gov.

Concern Within The Community

Members of the community have been greatly impacted by this tragedy. “The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected,” spokesperson Doug Anderson said. “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer, and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

A fellow Mormon, Timothy Jones, spoke to the media about how this shooting has impacted the community, specifically those of the Mormon faith. He and his family are a part of another Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation, or ward, only minutes away from the one Sanford shot up and set ablaze. He said that his ward went into lockdown after they received word of the incident just down the road. His children were frantic, and he explained that Sundays are “supposed to be a time of peace and a time of reflection and worship.” 

Teamsters Local 332 President Dan Glass reported that nurses nearby at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital heard about the shooting, stopped their strike, and ran to the church to help. “Human lives matter more than our labor dispute,” Glass said. Many others condemned the violence against the church. “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Mother of The Gunman

Days before the horrific shooting, the mother of the Mormon Church gunman, Brenda Walters-Sanford, posted an ominous social media post referencing someone who “constantly avoids accountability.” The post from her recently deleted Facebook account has gone viral, and numerous users are constantly reposting it. However, it is still unconfirmed whether she was referring to anyone in particular or not. 

“Talking to someone who constantly avoids accountability is not a real conversation – it’s a battle. It’s a cycle of deflection, projection, twisting, and playing the victim,” the post read. “I’ve spent too long bending, softening, and framing my words to fit the narrative you want, hoping for connection, for understanding, for a simple acknowledgement of reality. But it never comes.”

Brenda has other posts on her Facebook showing support for President Trump, and the gunman supposedly had a Trump sign in his front yard showing his support. The president reacted to the violent act on Truth Social, stating, “This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America,” but there is still a lot of information to learn. He concluded his post calling for an end to the epidemic of violence in the United States.