At least two dead and several injured in shooting at Mormon church in Michigan

At least two people have been killed and nine others wounded after a gunman drove a vehicle into a church in Michigan and opened fire, 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 that attracts hundreds of people.

The suspect, identified by police as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford from nearby Burton, Michigan, allegedly also set part of the building on fire which has since been contained. Officials warned they may discover additional victims inside.

The alleged shooter was shot dead by police. Authorities said there was no ongoing threat to the public.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye told reporters that “hundreds” of people were attending services at about 10:25 local time (15:25GMT) 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,” Chief Renye said.

The police responded immediately to the scene, he said, adding officers “engaged in gunfire with that particular individual, neutralising that suspect”. He was killed at 10:33 local time, seven minutes after the shooting.

Eight people with gunshot wounds are being treated in hospital. Seven are in stable condition, and one is critically injured, police said.

“We are still trying to determine exactly when and where the fire ended up coming from and how it got started,” police chief said. “We believe it was deliberately set, though, by the suspect.”

Investigators are conducting a search of the suspect’s property and examining his cell-phone records as they work to establish a motive.

In a statement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed a gunman opened fire during worship services, and “multiple individuals were injured”.

“We pray for peace and healing for all involved,” it said.

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, and confirmed the FBI will be leading the federal investigation.

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.