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At least two dead and eight injured after shooting at Mormon church in Michigan At least four dead and eight injured after shooting at Mormon church in Michigan
(about 4 hours later)
Church on fire in violent weekend with shootings also in North Carolina, Texas, and New Orleans’ Bourbon StreetChurch on fire in violent weekend with shootings also in North Carolina, Texas, and New Orleans’ Bourbon Street
At least two victims are dead and eight others are injured after a shooting and a fire at a Mormon church in Michigan, authorities said. At least four people were killed and eight others injured after a gunman opened fire at a Mormon church in Michigan and then set the building ablaze, authorities said.
Although the local fire department put out the flames, officials say more victims may be found at the site. Two of the shooting victims died and eight others were hospitalised, officials said initially, while the gunman was shot dead by police. Several hours after the shooting, police reported finding at least two more bodies in the charred remains of the church, which had not yet been cleared and may contain other victims.
The police chief of Grand Blanc Township, William Renye, said a 40-year-old male suspect drove a vehicle through the front door of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday morning, got out and began firing an assault rifle at hundreds of church attendees. Local police arrived and killed the suspect, Renye told reporters on Sunday afternoon. The police chief of Grand Blanc Township, William Renye, said a 40-year-old male suspect drove a vehicle through the front door of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday morning, got out and began firing an assault rifle at hundreds of church attendees.
The suspect was later identified by officials as Thomas Jacob Sanford, from the nearby city of Burton. The suspect was later identified by officials as Thomas Jacob Sanford, from the nearby city of Burton. US military records show Sanford was a US Marine from 2004 to 2008 and an Iraq war veteran.
“There is NO threat to the public at this time,” police said on Facebook earlier on Sunday. Renye echoed the statement, saying they believe Sanford acted alone.
Seven of the shooting victims are in stable condition and one remains in critical condition. It is still unknown how many may have been injured due to the fire.Seven of the shooting victims are in stable condition and one remains in critical condition. It is still unknown how many may have been injured due to the fire.
Renye also said police suspected that the fire was “deliberately set” by the gunman. No motive for the attack has yet been determined. Renye also said police suspected that the fire had been “deliberately set” by the gunman. No motive for the attack has yet been determined.
Investigators did not provide the names of the victims. Officials said they had set up a pair of local reunification sites.Investigators did not provide the names of the victims. Officials said they had set up a pair of local reunification sites.
Federal agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are also responding to the scene, according to the attorney general, Pam Bondi. Renye said the FBI will be devoting 100 agents to the area to help conduct the investigation. Federal agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were also responding to the scene, according to the attorney general, Pam Bondi. Renye said the FBI would be devoting 100 agents to the area to help conduct the investigation.
Grand Blanc, a community of roughly 8,000 people, is just outside Flint and about 50 miles north of Detroit. Genesee county sheriff Chris Swanson said the area had been evacuated and local and federal authorities were there. “The entire church is on fire,” Swanson said, adding that authorities would release more details later. A woman who gave her name as Paula described her escape as “surreal” in an interview with WXYZ television.
“We heard a big bang and the doors blew. And then everybody rushed out,” she said, adding that there was no security and the shooter opened fire on parishioners as they fled.
“I lost friends in there and some of my little primary children that I teach on Sundays were hurt. It’s very devastating for me.”
“My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community,” Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer said on social media. “Violence anywhere especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.”
President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the shooting “appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America” and that the FBI was on the scene. “THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
Grand Blanc, a community of roughly 8,000 people, is just outside Flint and about 50 miles north of Detroit.
Mormons on Sunday happened to be mourning the death of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ oldest-ever president, Russell Nelson, the previous night. Nelson was 101 when he died at his home in Salt Lake City.Mormons on Sunday happened to be mourning the death of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ oldest-ever president, Russell Nelson, the previous night. Nelson was 101 when he died at his home in Salt Lake City.
The Grand Blanc shooting happened during a particularly violent weekend in the US. There had been multiple mass shootings – cases in which four or more people are shot or killed – reported in the US in public places heading into Sunday morning. The Grand Blanc shooting happened during a particularly violent weekend in the US and marked the 324th mass shooting in the US in 2025 according to the Gun Violence Archive. There had been multiple mass shootings – cases in which four or more people are shot or killed – reported in the US in public places heading into Sunday morning.
Three people were killed and at least eight others wounded late on Saturday when someone opened fire from a boat into a crowd gathered at a waterfront bar in a coastal town in North Carolina, authorities said. In North Carolina, another 40-year-old Marine veteran who served in Iraq was the suspect in a shooting that killed three people and wounded five others less than 14 hours before the Michigan incident.
Elsewhere, in south Texas, seven were shot – two of whom were killed – in a shooting at a casino early Sunday. And in New Orleans, one woman was killed and three other people were wounded in a shooting on the city’s popular Bourbon Street, also early on Sunday. Police in Southport, North Carolina, accused Nigel Max Edge of firing on a waterfront bar from a boat on Saturday night. Edge has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and five counts of attempted murder, police said.
The North Carolina shooting erupted about 9.30pm near a popular stretch of bars and restaurants on Southport’s waterfront, a historic port town about 30 miles (48km) south of Wilmington. Investigators said the assailant, identified by Southport city officials as Nigel Edge of nearby Oak Island, piloted a small boat close to shore, stopped briefly and fired into the crowd before speeding away. The North Carolina shooting erupted about 9.30pm near a popular stretch of bars and restaurants on Southport’s waterfront, a historic port town about 30 miles (48km) south of Wilmington. Investigators said the assailant piloted a small boat close to shore, stopped briefly and fired into the crowd before speeding away.
Roughly half an hour later, a US coast guard crew spotted a person matching the suspect’s description pulling a boat from the water at a public ramp on nearby Oak Island. The person was detained and turned over to Southport police for questioning, officials said. At a news conference on Sunday, local police chief Todd Coring said the shooting was “highly premeditated” and that the scene was “targeted”. Coring did not elaborate.
After his arrest, Edge faces three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon, according to Southport city spokeswoman ChyAnn Ketchum. During a Sunday press conference, officials said Edge self-identifies as a veteran suffering from PTSD.
Investigators from multiple agencies – including the state bureau of investigation and the coast guard – remained on the water and at the scene on Sunday collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
At a news conference Sunday, local police chief Todd Coring said the shooting was “highly premeditated” and that the scene was “targeted”. Coring did not elaborate.
Oak Island police chief Charlie Morris said the suspect was known to local officers as someone “who frequently hung out on our pier” – and that he had filed lawsuits against the town and police department over the last few years. He also did not elaborate.Oak Island police chief Charlie Morris said the suspect was known to local officers as someone “who frequently hung out on our pier” – and that he had filed lawsuits against the town and police department over the last few years. He also did not elaborate.
Local district attorney Jon David said Edge had had “minor contacts” with police in the past “but nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror”.Local district attorney Jon David said Edge had had “minor contacts” with police in the past “but nothing significant in his past which would give us any indication that he was capable of such horror”.
Officials did not immediately release the names of those killed or provide information on the conditions of those who were wounded.Officials did not immediately release the names of those killed or provide information on the conditions of those who were wounded.
In Texas, about 12.15am on Sunday, two people died and five more were injured in a shooting at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle casino in Eagle Pass, near the US-Mexico border, the local news outlet KSAT reported.In Texas, about 12.15am on Sunday, two people died and five more were injured in a shooting at the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle casino in Eagle Pass, near the US-Mexico border, the local news outlet KSAT reported.
Law enforcement early on Sunday was searching for a suspect in the casino shooting, the local county government’s top official, Ramsey English Cantú, said to KSAT. Authorities did not immediately discuss a possible motive in that shooting.Law enforcement early on Sunday was searching for a suspect in the casino shooting, the local county government’s top official, Ramsey English Cantú, said to KSAT. Authorities did not immediately discuss a possible motive in that shooting.
In a separate statement on Facebook, English Cantú said: “More than anything, I ask that we come together to pray for the families of the two victims whose lives were tragically lost in this heinous act.”In a separate statement on Facebook, English Cantú said: “More than anything, I ask that we come together to pray for the families of the two victims whose lives were tragically lost in this heinous act.”
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, on the first block of Bourbon Street, the well-known entertainment thoroughfare, a triple shooting killed one woman, wounded two other women and injured a man, local police said. According to Guardian reporting partner WWL Louisiana, the slain woman was pronounced dead at the scene while the other three who were wounded were taken to a hospital.Meanwhile, in New Orleans, on the first block of Bourbon Street, the well-known entertainment thoroughfare, a triple shooting killed one woman, wounded two other women and injured a man, local police said. According to Guardian reporting partner WWL Louisiana, the slain woman was pronounced dead at the scene while the other three who were wounded were taken to a hospital.
New Orleans police did not immediately publicly identify a suspect or discuss a possible motive.New Orleans police did not immediately publicly identify a suspect or discuss a possible motive.
As of Sunday, the 271st day of 2025, there had been more than 320 mass shootings in the US, according to the non-partisan Gun Violence Archive.As of Sunday, the 271st day of 2025, there had been more than 320 mass shootings in the US, according to the non-partisan Gun Violence Archive.
Perennially high rates of mass shootings in the US have prompted many to call on federal lawmakers to implement more substantial gun control. But Congress has largely been unable or unwilling to heed those pleas.Perennially high rates of mass shootings in the US have prompted many to call on federal lawmakers to implement more substantial gun control. But Congress has largely been unable or unwilling to heed those pleas.
The Associated Press contributed reporting The Associated Press and Reuters contributed reporting