LAGOS SEPTEMBER 29TH (NEWSRNAGERS)-At least four people were killed and eight others injured after a gunman drove a vehicle into a Michigan church, opened fire and set the building ablaze, before being killed himself, police say.
Officials said the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, a town 60 miles (100km) northwest of Detroit, happened during a Sunday service attended by hundreds of people.
The suspect, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from Burton, Michigan, was later shot dead by police in the building’s car park.
Authorities are investigating the incident as an “act of targeted violence”, but say the motive remains unclear.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was “trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note”.
Two victims died from gunshot wounds, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told a news conference on Sunday.
He later said two more people had been found dead and “some” others remained unaccounted for, though he could not say how many. The church was still being “cleared” on Sunday night after suffering extensive fire damage, he added.
Chief Renye said hundreds of people were attending services at about 10:25 local time (15:25 GMT) when a gunman drove a vehicle into the building.
The attacker then opened fire with an assault-style rifle, “firing several rounds at individuals within the church,” he explained.
The police responded immediately to the scene, Chief Renye said, adding officers “engaged in gunfire with that particular individual, neutralising that suspect”. Sanford was killed at 10:33 local time, eight minutes after the shooting.
“We are still trying to determine exactly when and where the fire ended up coming from and how it got started,” the police chief said.
The suspect had used an accelerant – most likely gasoline – to start the blaze, authorities said.
Chief Renye also praised the “heroism” of churchgoers who had sheltered children in the church during the incident.
Watch: Church-goers sheltered children in act of ‘heroism’ say police
Investigators are conducting a search of the suspect’s property and examining his cell-phone records as they work to establish a motive.
Sanford was a Marine Corps veteran and served in Iraq, Leavitt confirmed to reporters on Monday.
The FBI is leading the investigation and has deployed crisis response teams, bomb technicians and others to the scene, according to Reuben Coleman, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office.
Michigan State Police spokeswoman Kim Vetter told reporters that officers have been responding to additional bomb threats at multiple other locations.
“We’ve responded and cleared those locations,” she said.
In a statement, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed that a gunman opened fire during worship services, and “multiple individuals were injured”.
“We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
Grand Blanc police said that 100 FBI agents have been deployed to assist with the investigation.
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the shooting.
Writing on Truth Social, he described it as “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America”.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X that she had received briefings on “what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire” at the church.
“Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling,” Bondi said.
“Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy.”
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the incident, saying: “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” adding that she was monitoring the situation.
Mitt Romney, former US senator for Utah and one of the most prominent Mormon politicians, called the shooting a “tragedy”, adding: “My brothers and sisters and their church are targets of violence. Praying for healing and comforting.”
BBC NEWS
For media advert placement, events coverage, media consultancy, placement of publications and further inquiries please WhatsApp 2348023773039 or email: labakevwe@yahoo.com
