Two more people are confirmed dead as a result of Sunday’s shooting and fire at a Mormon church in Michigan as the search for additional victims continues.
Authorities in Grand Blanc Township said two additional bodies were recovered from the burned out church.
The other two people killed were shot, police said.Police believe the attacker used an accelerant, likely gasoline, to start the fire.
The attacker was killed by police.
“The entire church has not been cleared because it’s a total loss due to the fire,” Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters.
He noted that some people remained unaccounted for as of Sunday night.
Emergency personnel work at the scene of a shooting which took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to police, in Grand Blanc, Michigan, U.S., Sept. 28, 2025. (REUTERS/Rebecca Cook)
Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man police said crashed his truck into a Michigan church, set it on fire and shot churchgoers in a violent attack, is a former Marine.
The Marine Corps confirmed to Fox News’ Garrett Tenney that Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, was a Marine and served from 2004-2008, including deployments to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and worked as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator.
His last assignment was with the 2nd Marine Logistics Group in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Sanford left the Marines as a sergeant.
He earned several awards during his four years of service, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Police have confirmed at least two people died in the shooting. Eight other people were injured. Authorities said they fear more people may have died in the fire, but have not been able to say how many.
Michigan authorities have identified the suspect believed to have killed at least two people and injured several others as Thomas Jacob Sanford.
Sanford, 40, allegedly opened fired during a service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles north of Detroit.
As of Sunday evening, 7 victims were in stable condition and one was in critical condition, police said during a short news conference.
A spokesperson for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said early indications show the gunman in Sunday’s Michigan church shooting does not appear to have any connection to the congregation.
The LDS called Sunday’s shooting ‘a tragic act of violence’ after the gunman opened fire during worship services, injuring multiple people.
“A tragic act of violence occurred today at a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan,” LDS leadership said in a statement on Sunday. “During Sunday worship services a gunman opened fire, and early reports indicate that multiple individuals were injured. We ask for cooperation with local authorities as details become available.
“The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected,” the statement continued. “We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families.
“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ,” church leaders added. “Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)
An eyewitness said chaos erupted Sunday when a truck crashed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, and the driver opened fire on worshippers, forcing families to flee as bullets tore through the congregation.
A church member told Fox News’ Garrett Tenney that the sacrament — similar to Holy Communion — had just ended when a crash and enormous boom shook the wall behind the pulpit. He said the brick wall was buckling inward from the force of the impact.
About 150 people were inside at the time, including many families with young children, the witness said. The crash was so loud some thought a bomb had gone off. Panic spread as worshippers ran out the back of the church into the parking lot.
MICHIGAN CHURCH SHOOTING LEAVES MULTIPLE VICTIMS; POLICE SAY SHOOTER ‘DOWN’
The witness and a few others went out front, thinking a car had accidentally veered off the road. Outside, he saw a man step from a large pickup truck with a rifle and open fire indiscriminately on people fleeing the Michigan church.
As bullets flew past, the witness turned and ran back inside toward the rear of the building where his family had fled. Along the way, he passed a teenager with blood on his arm who said, “I got shot.”
At the back exit, he saw people cramming into cars, squeezing in as many as possible to escape.
Authorities in Los Angeles and New York City are deploying more police officers near places of worship following Sunday’s deadly church shooting in Michigan.
Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the New York City Police Department are increasing patrols out of an abundance of caution, officials said.
Cities often increase patrols near religious buildings whenever an attack occurs at a place of worship.
Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)
A second victim has died from a gunshot wound sustained during Sunday’s shooting, authorities said.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye announced the death in a video posted on Facebook.
Police previously said at least one person was killed. At least 8 others people were injured.
The shooter died after being pursued by police.
Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)
A gunman opened fire inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, killing one person and injuring nine others, during Sunday services before setting the building ablaze, police said.
The 40-year-old man rammed a pickup truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, which was filled with hundreds of people.
The man was killed after police officers engaged him, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters at a press conference.
The gunman was armed with what appeared to be an assault rifle, the chief said. Investigators have not disclosed a motive for the attack.
Renye said there may be more victims as authorities begin to search the burned structure following the large fire.
“We do believe that there was people up there that were near that fire and they were unable to get out of the church,” the police chief said. “So we do believe that we will find additional victims once we’re able to search.”
Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at his Salt Lake City home on Saturday, the church announced. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump praised President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), Prophet Russell M. Nelson, who died overnight at 101, as both a pioneering heart surgeon and a devoted spiritual leader.
Nelson’s death comes just one day before the deadly attack on the LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. It’s unclear if his death was in any way connected to the shooting and fire.
In a Truth Social post, Trump offered condolences to Nelson’s wife, Wendy, his large family and church members across the nation. He highlighted Nelson’s sharpness and service up to the end, calling him “a physician, literally and spiritually,” whose remarkable life and decades of ministry will be greatly missed.
“Russell M. Nelson, the President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away last night at the age of 101 — He just had his birthday earlier this week!,” Trump wrote. “Russell was sharp and engaged in service up until the end.”
“Our hearts and prayers are with his incredible wife, Wendy, his 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and more than 167 great-grandchildren, as well as Members of the Church all over our Country,” Trump continued. “Russell had a remarkable life, pioneering life-saving heart surgery techniques and, of course, his ministry of many decades. He was a physician, literally and spiritually, and will be greatly missed!”
Emergency responders work the scene outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following a shooting and fire in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)
Reps. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Maria Salazar, R-Fla., offered prayers after Sunday’s Michigan church shooting that left one dead and nine injured. Salazar also urged unity to confront what she called an epidemic of senseless violence.
On X, Lawler asked Americans to keep the LDS parish community, along with the victims and their families, in their prayers.
MICHIGAN CHURCH SHOOTING LEAVES MULTIPLE VICTIMS; POLICE SAY SHOOTER ‘DOWN’
“My heartfelt prayers are with the families and parish community of the LDS church in Michigan,” he wrote. “Please keep them in your thoughts during this difficult time.”
Salazar condemned the attack and called for an end to what she described as an “epidemic of senseless violence.”
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at the LDS church in Michigan,” she wrote. “My prayers are with the victims, their families, and the entire community. We must come together to end this epidemic of senseless violence.”
Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Leader of the U.S House of Representatives, speaks onstage during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. (Photo by Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for Congressional Black Caucus Foundation)
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said he was “shocked and dismayed” by Sunday’s deadly shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service in Michigan.
“My heartfelt prayers and condolences are extended to the victims, families, congregants and community,” he said in a statement.
“The level of high profile violence in America this year shocks the conscience,” Jeffries added. “Our country is spiraling out of control. We need dramatic change.”
