Thomas Jacob Sanford kills 3, injures 8 before dying in shootout with police on Sept 28, 2025.
Last Updated on 3 months ago by Vijay Kumar
A quiet Sunday service on September 28, 2025, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township turned into a scene of horror when a man identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, carried out a violent attack that left four people dead, including himself, and at least eight others injured.
Those 10 victims were brought to a hospital, where two people have since died. As of 5 p.m. Sunday, seven victims were listed as stable and one is in critical condition.
Police said, “two victims were found inside the church after crews began entering the destroyed building. Those two victims had not been shot.”
According to law enforcement officials, Sanford drove his pickup truck into the church building, opened fire on congregants, and then set parts of the structure ablaze. Chaos erupted as families scrambled to escape the smoke and gunfire. Officers arrived within minutes, exchanging fire with the suspect. Sanford was killed during the confrontation.
Authorities confirmed that three congregants died during the attack. Eight others suffered injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to smoke inhalation and are receiving treatment at local hospitals.
“We do believe that we will find some additional victims,” Renye said.
Sanford, a former U.S. Marine Corps sergeant, served from 2004 to 2008 and completed a tour in Iraq. His truck bore an Iraq War veteran license plate, highlighting his military past. Social media posts suggest that he was married and had a 10-year-old son.
Neighbors described him as “quiet but intense,” though no immediate red flags of violent behavior were reported publicly. Investigators are now piecing together his background, political affiliations, and mental health history.
The FBI is leading the investigation, treating the incident as an act of targeted violence. Special agents are reviewing Sanford’s personal devices, interviewing acquaintances, and examining evidence collected from his Burton residence.
At this stage, the motive remains unclear. Reports about political signage outside his home and flags displayed on his vehicle have circulated online, but officials caution against drawing conclusions until facts are verified.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief and FBI officials jointly condemned the attack, emphasizing that “there is no evidence at this time to suggest broader threats to the community.”
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both issued statements on September 29, 2025, condemning the violence and calling for unity.
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.
