Another harrowing mass shooting in the United States has left a community reeling after at least five people were killed — including the gunman — and more than eight others were wounded, according to police reports. The violence unfolded on a quiet Sunday morning at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, where worshippers had gathered for service. What began as what many expected to be a routine morning of prayer and fellowship quickly turned into a scene of smoke, sirens, and stunned disbelief.
Officials say the attack occurred at around 10:25 a.m. local time at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Eyewitness images and early news footage showed a dramatic column of smoke rising from the building as flames consumed part of the roof, evidence of a blaze started during the assault. According to the authorities, the gunman — later identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford — drove a vehicle draped with two American flags through the church’s front doors before stepping out and opening fire with what has been described as an assault rifle. After the initial shooting, investigators say Sanford deliberately set parts of the building on fire using gasoline, compounding the horror for those inside.
Law enforcement sources, including the ATF, confirmed that the suspect, a former Marine who served between 2004 and 2008 and was deployed in Iraq, was shot dead by responding officers. Grand Blanc Township officials reported that police arrived at the scene remarkably quickly — within 30 seconds of the first 911 call — yet even with that rapid response, multiple victims remained inside the damaged structure. As night fell, authorities discovered two more bodies in the ruined interior in addition to two people who had died of gunshot wounds earlier in the day. Ten people were taken to local hospitals; some were later confirmed dead, while others remained in critical condition.
The scale of the devastation has left neighbors and church members searching for answers and attempting to comfort one another. For a small congregation, a place that normally offers solace became the site of tragedy and trauma, and the community has since mobilized to support survivors and families. First responders and investigators worked through the charred wreckage, hopeful but fearful that additional victims could be found amid the burned remains of the sanctuary.
Details have also emerged about the attacker’s personal life, sketching an unsettling contrast between the public violence and private struggles. Reports indicate that Sanford was a husband and the father of a young boy suffering from congenital hyperinsulinism, a serious medical condition that causes excessive insulin production. A GoFundMe established to help the family with mounting medical costs reportedly raised a small sum, underscoring the complex human story behind the headlines.
As investigators piece together a motive, residents and clergy have expressed shock and sorrow. In the immediate aftermath, community leaders urged calm and called for prayers and support for both the victims and the first responders who risked their lives to stop the attack. Local hospitals, counselors, and faith organizations mobilized to provide emergency care and counseling to those affected.
This massacre is the latest in a string of violent episodes that continue to scar communities across the country. For now, authorities are focused on a painstaking investigation into how it happened and whether more victims remain undiscovered. In the quieter moments that follow the chaos, people are left grappling with grief, offering condolences, and trying to make sense of an act that brought so much pain to a place of worship. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families, and everyone touched by this senseless tragedy.
