Deadly Michigan Church Attack: Former Marine Identified as Gunman in Shooting and Arson
Former Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford was identified as the gunman in a deadly Michigan church attack involving a shooting, arson, and explosives, leaving four dead and eight wounded.
Michigan Mormon Church Shooting: What to Know
TIME Magazine
One dead, several wounded in attack on Mormon house of worship
World News Group
Trump calls Michigan Mormon church shooting 'targeted attack' on Christians
Washington Examiner
1 killed, 9 wounded in shooting, arson at Michigan church
New York Daily News
'Multiple Victims' In Shooting At LDS Church
Daily Caller
Multiple people shot by active shooter at Michigan Mormon church
Washington Examiner
Subscribe to unlock this story
We really don't like cutting you off, but you've reached your monthly limit. At just $5/month, subscriptions are how we keep this project going. Start your free 7-day trial today!
Get StartedHave an account? Sign in
Overview
- Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old former Marine, was identified as the gunman who rammed a pickup truck into a Michigan Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel during Sunday service.
- Sanford then opened fire on congregants and deliberately used gas to set the church ablaze; three improvised explosive devices were also discovered at the scene.
- The attack resulted in four fatalities and eight injuries, with one person critical. Crews are searching the rubble for additional victims, as some remain unaccounted for.
- Two officers pursued and fatally shot Sanford after he left the Michigan Mormon church, with conflicting reports on the duration of the engagement, ensuring no ongoing public threat.
- The FBI is investigating the motive behind this deadly incident, which adds to a pattern of multiple attacks on U.S. houses of worship over the past two decades.
Report issue
Read both sides in 5 minutes each day
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover this tragic event with a focus on factual reporting and official statements, avoiding loaded language or overt editorializing. They prioritize conveying the immediate details of the attack, the casualties, the suspect's actions, and the ongoing law enforcement investigation, presenting a balanced array of reactions from various public figures.
"The man suspected of opening fire on a Michigan LDS church on Sunday was a 40-year-old veteran of the Iraq War, according to officials."
ABC News"The attack unfolded Sunday morning during a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service in Grand Blanc Township, located about 60 miles northwest of Detroit."
NPR"A gunman left a Michigan community reeling over the weekend after an attack at a church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, killed four people and injured eight others."
USA TODAY"The incident is the latest in a long series of attacks on places of worship across the United States, including the deadly August shooting at a Catholic church in Minneapolis."
USA TODAY"Fire and smoke poured from the church for hours, and photos showed charred rubble from the building."
Associated Press"The shooting was the latest of several attacks on houses of worship in the U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis."
Associated Press"The search for more potential victims of a mass shooting at a Michigan church continued into Monday, after a gunman killed at least four people while hundreds were worshiping on Sunday morning."
ABC News"This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America."
USA TODAY"A gunman opened fire inside a Michigan church during Sunday services before apparently setting the building ablaze, killing at least one person and injuring nine before police shot him, authorities said."
Fortune"The incident occurred at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to a post from the Grand Blanc Township Police Department at 11:12 a.m. ET."
USA TODAY"At least one person was killed and nine were injured when a gunman attacked a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints service in Michigan on Sunday morning, police said."
NPR"Multiple people were shot Sunday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, police said."
ABC News"The shooting occurred at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, about 50 miles north of Detroit, local police said in a social media post."
Chicago Tribune"Police added that the church is "actively" on fire and is asking the public to avoid the area."
CBS News"A mass shooting and fire rattled the central Michigan community of Grand Blanc on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 28."
USA TODAYArticles (39)
Center (15)
FAQ
Thomas Jacob Sanford was a 40-year-old former Marine from Burton, Michigan, who was identified as the gunman responsible for the deadly church attack in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Sanford rammed a pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during Sunday service, opened fire on congregants with an assault rifle, set the church on fire using gas, and three improvised explosive devices were found at the scene.
The attack resulted in four deaths and eight people wounded, with one victim in critical condition and the others reported stable; crews continued searching for additional victims.
Two officers pursued Sanford after the attack and fatally shot him, ending the threat. There are conflicting reports about the duration of the engagement, but authorities confirmed no ongoing danger to the public.
The FBI is actively investigating the motive behind the attack, which is part of a broader pattern of multiple attacks on U.S. houses of worship over the past two decades.
History
- 1M
4 articles - 1M
6 articles
- 1M
15 articles - 1M6 articles