Gunman Crashes Truck into Michigan Church, Kills Four and Injures Eight

A gunman drove a pickup truck through the doors of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel during Sunday services, opened fire on worshippers and ignited the building with an accelerant, leaving at least four people dead and eight injured, authorities reported. Police arrived within 30 seconds of a 911 call and fatally shot the suspect after a brief pursuit outside the structure. The attack, which unfolded around 10:25 a.m. in this suburb of about 40,000 residents outside Flint, was described by the FBI as a targeted act of violence, with bomb threats later reported at nearby churches.

The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford from neighbouring Burton, exited his four-door pickup—adorned with two American flags—and began shooting indiscriminately at the congregation of hundreds, according to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. Sanford used gasoline to start the fire, and explosive devices were found in his vehicle, though it's unclear if they were deployed, said James Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Responding officers engaged Sanford in gunfire about eight minutes after arriving, ending the threat as he fled the burning chapel. Fire crews battled thick smoke and flames for hours before extinguishing the blaze, during which rescuers discovered two victims' bodies amid the debris. Search teams continued clearing the site late Sunday, with some attendees still unaccounted for; one survivor remained in critical condition, while seven others were stable.

The incident shattered the peace of the tight-knit Latter-day Saints community, known locally for its strong support networks. Witnesses described heroic efforts inside, with parishioners shielding children and ushering them to safety amid the chaos. Neighbour Brad Schneemann, whose home is 400 yards away, recounted hearing bursts of gunfire around 10:30 a.m., followed by an eerie silence. Timothy Jones, 48, whose family belongs to a nearby ward, said his children had attended a youth event at the chapel the previous night; news of the shooting prompted an immediate lockdown at his congregation's service. "Sundays are supposed to be a time of peace and reflection," Jones said, lamenting the sense of inevitability after prior attacks on houses of worship.

Also Read: PM Modi Calls Asia Cup Win ‘Operation Sindoor on Field’

This assault marks the latest in a string of deadly shootings at U.S. religious sites over the past two decades, including an August incident at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis that claimed two children's lives during Mass. It followed closely on the heels of another mass shooting on Saturday night in Southport, North Carolina, where a gunman in a boat killed three and wounded five at a public gathering. The chapel's location near residential neighbourhoods and a Jehovah's Witness facility amplified the shockwaves, with striking nurses from Henry Ford Genesys Hospital abandoning their picket line to assist first responders. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer decried the violence as "unacceptable", especially in a sanctuary of faith. President Donald Trump, briefed on the event, praised the FBI's rapid response—deploying 100 agents—and urged an end to the "epidemic of violence" in a social media post.

As investigators combed Sanford's residence for clues to a still-unclear motive, the community mourned with a vigil at The River Church, a nondenominational site five miles away. About 100 attendees gathered, some weeping as Pastor Chuck Lindsey prayed for healing: "We're exhausted by the evil, but Lord, you are our refuge." The church, led by the late Russell M. Nelson until his death at 101 the previous day, issued a statement emphasising sanctuaries as places of "peacemaking, prayer and connection". Bomb threats at other local churches proved unfounded, but heightened security measures lingered. In Grand Blanc's cohesive township and city, Mayor John Creasey noted the shared pain: "This sort of thing is painful for our entire community." The tragedy, unfolding just after the faith's leadership transition to Dallin H. Oaks, serves as a stark reminder of vulnerabilities in sacred spaces across America.

Also Read: Woman Applauds Rapido Rider for Staying With Her Late at Night