Donations will provide medical treatment, funeral services, counseling, and family support for those affected by the Grand Blanc church attack. Funds may also assist rebuilding efforts, trauma therapy, and local religious community aid. Contributions may be directed to victim‑relief funds, local church trusts, and nonprofit trauma support organizations.
On September 28, 2025, a mass shooting and arson attack struck a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. The assailant rammed a vehicle into the church building, opened fire on congregants during the service, and set the premises ablaze. At least four worshippers were killed and eight others wounded. The attacker, identified as 40‑year‑old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was shot and killed by police within eight minutes of the first 911 call. Investigators are treating the assault as targeted violence and are examining the shooter’s motives, devices, and whether more victims remain in the charred remains.
During a Sunday morning service, hundreds of congregants were gathered inside the Grand Blanc LDS meetinghouse when the assailant drove a truck into the building’s front entry, smashing doors and crashing into the interior. Witnesses say a loud explosion or crash was followed by gunfire. The attacker, carrying what authorities believe was a semi‑automatic rifle and wearing camouflage attire, then opened fire among the faithful. He reportedly had improvised explosive devices and used accelerants—likely gasoline—to ignite a fire that quickly spread through the structure.
Police officers responded rapidly, arriving within about 25 seconds of the initial 911 call. They confronted the suspect and engaged in a firefight, fatally shooting him inside the church property by about 10:33 a.m.—less than eight minutes after the violence began. The building, engulfed in flames, collapsed in parts, and investigators searched the ashes for evidence and additional victims. By the following day, officials reported no additional bodies found beyond the four confirmed dead and the eight wounded, though earlier reports had considered the possibility of more missing. Authorities recovered explosive material and fire accelerants from the scene, and are combing through the assailant’s electronic devices, social media, and residence for motives and planning clues.
The tragedy shattered the religious community in Grand Blanc and nearby Flint, prompting solidarity from local congregations, interfaith groups, and government leaders. Schools in impacted districts closed the day following the attack. State and federal investigators, including the FBI and ATF, have classified the incident as “targeted violence.” Church leaders and local officials are coordinating victim support, memorial planning, and long-term recovery efforts—while the search for motive continues.
