A Michigan community is mourning after a gunman on Sunday rammed his truck into the front doors of a church, shot into the crowd of congregants and set fire to the building, killing at least four and injuring several others before police killed him in a shootout at the scene.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye has identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, an Iraq War veteran who lived in nearby Burton.
Local, state and federal authorities said first responders were on scene within 30 seconds of the original 911 call following the horrific incident at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sanford was killed in the back parking lot of the church within eight minutes of when the attack unfolded.
On Monday, the community continued to process the mass shooting and search for signs of hope.
Grand Blanc will “overcome” the “tragic incident,” Renye said Sunday night, praising the “heroism of not only the first responders, but the people who were inside that church at the time.”
“They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety. Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith. Just extreme courage. Brave. And that’s the type of community that we are.”
Bridge Michigan has comprehensive coverage of the fire and shooting, the response of state and federal leaders, community resources and more.
Read the full coverage below:
- Michigan church shooting ‘an evil act and does not define Grand Blanc’
- Here’s how to find help coping with the church shooting in Grand Blanc
- Michigan church shooting: Gunman was former Marine, Iraq veteran, hunter
- Michigan church shooting: Trump, Whitmer, others condemn violence
- Michigan church shooting: At least 4 dead, plus suspect. Grand Blanc mourns