A mass shooting and arson attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, killed five people and injured eight others on the morning of September 28, 2025. The perpetrator, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, rammed a pickup truck into the chapel before opening fire with an AK-47-style rifle and setting the building ablaze.
Timeline of the Attack
The attack began at approximately 10:25 a.m. EDT at the Grand Blanc Stake Center, which serves as the headquarters for seven individual LDS Church congregations. According to records from Wikipedia, Sanford used a 2008 GMC Sierra pickup truck to ram into a brick wall on the south side of the building, directly beneath the steeple.
After exiting the vehicle, Sanford opened fire on the congregation during a church service that included hundreds of attendees, including children. Witnesses reported seeing the attacker wearing camouflage pants. During the violence, Sanford also utilized gasoline as an accelerante to set the building on fire, an act that destroyed much of the structure and resulted in two deaths due to smoke inhalation.
Police Response and Video Evidence
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye provided details regarding the rapid response by law enforcement. While initial reports suggested a slightly longer duration, a review of call logs and body camera footage released by the township police department on October 3 revealed that officers arrived on the scene within minutes of the first 911 call.
The official timeline established by investigators shows the first 911 call was received at 10:25:32 a.m., reporting a person shot in the stomach. A dispatcher notified the Grand Blanc Township police at 10:25:48 a.m. A Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officer arrived at 10:27:46, followed by a township officer at 10:28:54. Sanford was killed by officers during an exchange of gunfire in the parking lot just 3 minutes and 47 seconds after the initial dispatch.
Casualties and Injuries
The body camera footage released by the department captured the sounds of multiple shots being fired. In the video, one officer is heard telling his partner, "I got your and back back here, man," while a second officer commanded Sanford to drop his weapon and get on the ground. The footage also showed a man in a suit, believed to be a member of the congregation, running toward Sanford with a handgun before stopping without firing.
Investigators confirmed that two shots were fired by the conservation officer, leading to Sanford's death. By the evening of the attack, Grand Blanc Township firefighters had extinguished the blaze, and officials had recovered the bodies of the two victims who died from smoke inhalation.
Motive and Investigation
The attack resulted in five total fatalities. Two individuals were killed by gunfire, with one pronounced dead at the scene and another dying at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital. Two others died due to smoke inhalation within the burning building.
Eight survivors were admitted to Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, with five treated for gunshot wounds and three for smoke inhalation. At the time of reporting, six patients were in stable condition and two remained in critical condition. One critical patient had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen, while another suffered an abdominal wound. The son of one victim, a 6-year-old boy, was also treated for a gunshot wound to his arm.
Historical Context of the Chapel
The FBI's Michigan office stated the attack was being investigated as an "act of targeted violence." FBI Director Kash Patel noted that Sanford reportedly harbored hatred toward people of the Mormon faith. This sentiment was corroborated by a Burton City Council candidate, who told reporters that Sanford had referred to LDS Church members as "the antichrist" during a meeting one week prior to the attack.
Friends of Sanford suggested his animosity toward the church began following the end of a relationship with an LDS woman more than a decade ago. While some described Sanford as a right-wing Republican, law enforcement officials stated they did not believe politics were the primary motivator behind the shooting.
Community Presence
The Grand Blanc Stake Center has a long history in the community, having been dedicated in September 1981 with a ceremony hosted by former Michigan Governor George W. Romney. The building served as the meetinghouse for the Grand Blanc Ward, which had approximately 150 weekly attendees.
The attack occurred just one day after the death of LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson. It also marked the first shooting at an LDS meetinghouse since a July 2018 incident in Fallon, Nevada. The event took place amidst a period of high-profile violence in Michigan, including a June shooting at a church in Wayne and the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk.
Local Law Enforcement
The Grand Blanc Township Police Department continues to serve the local community, maintaining an ache presence through digital platforms. The department's official Facebook page recently noted preparations for upcoming community events, such as National Night Out, which is scheduled for early August.
