MI, Grand Blanc - Mass Shooting at Mormon Church, fire, 28 Sept 2025

[Warwick7]

There is still humanity...

"When striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital heard about the shooting, some left the picket line and ran the short distance to the church to help first responders, Teamsters Local 332 President Dan Glass said. “Human lives matter more than our labor dispute,” Glass said."

4 dead, 8 wounded in shooting and fire at Michigan LDS chapel, police say

Police say a 40-year-old man rammed a pickup truck into the front door of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles north of Detroit, before starting the shooting. He is also believed to have deliberately set fire to the church building.

www.kuer.org

 

[tlcya]

Gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, drove his truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sunday morning, before shooting congregants and setting the building on fire, according to officials.
Investigators probe for motive in Michigan LDS church shooting, fire

I've been offline all weekend, fixin to back read right now. Do we have any clues as to motive yet? The horror continues daily, the world feels full of angry unhinged threats lately.

 

[Sundog]

4 dead, 8 wounded in shooting and fire at Michigan LDS chapel, police say

Police say a 40-year-old man rammed a pickup truck into the front door of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles north of Detroit, before starting the shooting. He is also believed to have deliberately set fire to the church building.

www.kuer.org

With so many churches mentioned as being in the area in close proximity, and likely others not mentioned as well, why did the shooter choose this church? He lived 12 miles away, IIRC. Why this church?

ETA Was it the largest church in the area? Was that the motive? Go after the largest church in the area?

 

[tara83]

It actually seems like a miracle more people weren't killed.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

What we know about Thomas Sanford, alleged shooter at Grand Blanc church

The lone suspect in a mass shooting and devastating fire at a Michigan church is a former U.S. Marine who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

www.detroitnews.com

What we know about the Michigan church shooting and fire that killed 4 people

First responders were sifting through debris at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township for additional victims and evidence.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[tlcya]

don't mind me, just posting links as I get caught up so I can more easily find them later. Disregard if you've already seen them.
Michigan Church Shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford Served in Iraq War

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/28/us/thomas-sanford-michigan-shooting-suspect

‘We are very proud of him? - Clarkston News

Michigan church gunman’s mom posted eerie message about someone ‘avoiding accountability’ days before shooting

 

[Izzylizzy]

Very interesting from Megan as she goes through the Mormon faith and possibilities related to why the Church.

Began 15 mins ago,

 

[Ontario Mom]

4 dead, 8 wounded in shooting and fire at Michigan LDS chapel, police say

Police say a 40-year-old man rammed a pickup truck into the front door of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles north of Detroit, before starting the shooting. He is also believed to have deliberately set fire to the church building.

www.kuer.org

With so many churches mentioned as being in the area in close proximity, and likely others not mentioned as well, why did the shooter choose this church? He lived 12 miles away, IIRC. Why this church?

ETA Was it the largest church in the area? Was that the motive? Go after the largest church in the area?

I think there had to be some kind of personal connection to that church. Maybe the connection is related to LE being at the Weil Dairy Farm mentioned here Grand Blanc Township church shooting live updates: What we know about victims, suspect

 

[cenazoic]

The answer is always the same - hatred.

More to the point, imo - self-hatred, externally directed.

 

[Tealgrove]

I find this uptake in violence unsettling at the very least.

So much vitriol which incites those that are struggling, to find a cause, to find a way to be heard, or be “important”.

The defencelessness of the innocents is terrifying. Sitting in a place of worship where kindness and civility is practiced only to be murdered “just because”.

There is no defence against the violence.

Enjoying an evening in a restaurant.

Enjoying a celebration on New Year’s Eve.

Worshipping in church.

No place is sacred.

The rules of civility no longer apply.

We’ve seen this before.

History DOES repeat itself. It always has.

I fear what is to come for the world. We are entering very dangerous times.

MOO

 

[Izzylizzy]

I think there had to be some kind of personal connection to that church. Maybe the connection is related to LE being at the Weil Dairy Farm mentioned here Grand Blanc Township church shooting live updates: What we know about victims, suspect

Megan is still live so I can't timestamp.
Interview with a man who had a conversation with shooter and what he was told by him.

She said after his bankruptcy he moved to Utah in 2009 to plow snow and met a woman who was Morman and he had to have his tattoos to be part of LSD Temple ceremonies.

 

[Izzylizzy]

"When Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns heard that someone shot churchgoers and burned down the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28 in nearby Grand Blanc, he said not once did he think it was the man he spoke to while canvassing less than a week prior who went on a tirade against the church and described Mormons as "the antichrist."

The man was outgoing, polite, and "extremely friendly," Johns said. And his animosity toward the church didn't seem violent, he said — “it was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook.”

But Johns started seeing images on television and social media of law enforcement swarming the home he had just been to last week on East Atherton in Burton and had a bad feeling. Then he saw the man's photo circulating online.'

Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS tirade, political candidate said

Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns canvassed at Thomas Jacob Sanford's home less than a week before the Grand Blanc Township, Michigan shooting.

www.freep.com

 

[MrsWatson]

Mormon church shooting suspect had Trump sign outside home, records show

Google Maps images show suspect who was shot dead by police had Trump sign outside his Michigan house

www.theguardian.com

 

[layer]

Very interesting from Megan as she goes through the Mormon faith and possibilities related to why the Church.

I could be wrong, but she seems to be suggesting it was a disgruntled Mormon situation.

 

[Inthedetails]

Mormon church shooting suspect had Trump sign outside home, records show

Google Maps images show suspect who was shot dead by police had Trump sign outside his Michigan house

www.theguardian.com

From the same ^link^:

The church Sanford is said to have attacked was razed to the ground after the attacker is believed to have ignited the building by dousing it in petrol.

When did he do that? Seems like he rammed the church, got out of his car, shot people as they left the building....then did he go inside and spread gas around before tossing a match (or something else to set the gas aflame)?

jmopinion

 

[DS2021]

"When Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns heard that someone shot churchgoers and burned down the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28 in nearby Grand Blanc, he said not once did he think it was the man he spoke to while canvassing less than a week prior who went on a tirade against the church and described Mormons as "the antichrist."

The man was outgoing, polite, and "extremely friendly," Johns said. And his animosity toward the church didn't seem violent, he said — “it was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook.”

But Johns started seeing images on television and social media of law enforcement swarming the home he had just been to last week on East Atherton in Burton and had a bad feeling. Then he saw the man's photo circulating online.'

Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS tirade, political candidate said

Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns canvassed at Thomas Jacob Sanford's home less than a week before the Grand Blanc Township, Michigan shooting.

www.freep.com

I would say that's the motive right there.

 

[Tricia]

Megan Connor can be approved as a source on this case only. However, if Megan states something as a rumor or opinion, please do not post it here as fact. Megan is very factual and will always make it clear when she is discussing facts.
Thank you.
Tricia
PS. I know Megan personally and she is very reliable and clear when she is reporting facts.

 

[layer]

When did he do that? Seems like he rammed the church, got out of his car, shot people as they left the building....then did he go inside and spread gas around before tossing a match (or something else to set the gas aflame)?

You really are in the details!
I have no answers, but I did wire LDS churches and stake centers that look very similar to that building. They were 100% framed of wood, no steel studs or beams, and to me they seemed like a bonfire waiting to be ignited.
JMHO

 

[Chimera]

I found a better picture, it IS a welcome sign.

View attachment 617117
Source: Suspected Mormon church shooter an Iraq War veteran

Makes his choice of impact spot feel all the more pointed, IMO.

Yes.
"Visitors Welcome".
So sad !!!!
This church was open to accepting people, and that sign and their reaching out to the community.
Rest in peace to the yet-unnamed victims.
Prayers for the injured, physically and emotionally.
Omo.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Law enforcement to provide update on Grand Blanc Township church shooting

Law enforcement officials will provide an update on an investigation and recovery effort following a shooting and fire at a Grand Blanc Township church

www.detroitnews.com

Michigan church shooting live updates: 4 dead and 8 injured in Sunday attack

An attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, has killed at least 4 people and injured 8, police said.

www.nbcnews.com