Church Shooting & Arson at L.D.S. Church outside Flint, Michigan today

[Melensdad]

Reports are still coming in.

Apparently a mass shooting event at a Latter Day Saints (I think that is Morman?) Church in a small town, just outside of Flint, MI happened this morning. The church is reportedly to be under a 5-alarm fire. Multiple people apparently trapped inside. The building apparently went up very quickly, which is why arson was suspected as part of the shooting.

The shooter is "down" so I presume that means dead.

There are reports, all inconclusive, on "numbers" of wounded, but no reports of deaths among the church goes. Some of those wounded appear to be adults, some appear to be children.

Both the FBI and the ATF are en route to or currently on the scene.

This is an ongoing story.

VIDEO:

Michigan LDS Church Shooting: Multiple Victims, Fire Reported

Multiple agencies are responding to an active shooter and fire at a Michigan church.

www.newsweek.com

LIVE UPDATES at CNN Link below:

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/church-shooting-fire-michigan-09-28-25

LIVE UPDATES at NBC link below:

Live Updates: Michigan church engulfed in flames after shooting injures multiple people

Multiple people injured following Michigan church shooting

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Melensdad]

40 year old male is the shooter. He was killed by officers.

I believe one victim died of gun shot wounds in addition to the shooter.

"American Flags" on the front of the truck according to at least 1 report.

 

[Melensdad]

EDIT . . . the below information seems to be incorrect. Farther down the thread is an update.


According to GROK:

Marcus Hale is the suspect in the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on September 28, 2025. Hale, a 42-year-old former U.S. Army veteran and Grand Blanc resident, rammed his vehicle into the church entrance around 10:25–10:45 a.m. ET, opened fire with an assault-style rifle on worshippers, and set the building ablaze using an accelerant, resulting in two deaths and six injuries, including children. He was killed on-site by an off-duty police officer attending the service. Authorities are investigating potential religious bias, based on his anti-Mormon online posts, PTSD history, and possible personal conflicts, with no ties to organized groups confirmed yet.​

 

[Melensdad]

Coverage of 5:00pm (Eastern) Press Conference

 

[Melensdad]

According to GROK:

Marcus Hale is the suspect in the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on September 28, 2025. Hale, a 42-year-old former U.S. Army veteran and Grand Blanc resident, rammed his vehicle into the church entrance around 10:25–10:45 a.m. ET, opened fire with an assault-style rifle on worshippers, and set the building ablaze using an accelerant, resulting in two deaths and six injuries, including children. He was killed on-site by an off-duty police officer attending the service. Authorities are investigating potential religious bias, based on his anti-Mormon online posts, PTSD history, and possible personal conflicts, with no ties to organized groups confirmed yet.​

Thomas Sandford is now named as the possible suspect, not Marcus Hale.

Police have stated Sanford is the shooter and that he is dead on the scene, shot by an off duty LEO.

2 victims are dead. 1 in critical condition. 7 in stable condition in the hospital.

The shooter has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan, a suburb near Grand Blanc Township where the attack occurred.

Sanford is a former U.S. Marine who served in the Iraq War. Limited public details are available about his personal or professional life beyond his military service, as authorities are still conducting searches of his residence and reviewing his cellphone records. He was not believed to have any prior connection to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation targeted in the attack. His truck contained two American flags and a sticker from a waterfowl outfitter in Arkansas, but no further affiliations have been confirmed at this early stage.

 

[KitKat2023]

The thing about the internet is that rumors fly so fast and so often you never know what's true...and the media picks it up and flies with it as well. The last thing I heard moments ago is that the shooter hated the Mormon church. Whether that's true or not, who knows.

 

[Melensdad]

The thing about the internet is that rumors fly so fast and so often you never know what's true...and the media picks it up and flies with it as well. The last thing I heard moments ago is that the shooter hated the Mormon church. Whether that's true or not, who knows.

Yes, I’m also seeing various reports he had some sort of grudge against Mormons. All very unspecified as to why.

 

[pirate_girl]

The thing about the internet is that rumors fly so fast and so often you never know what's true...and the media picks it up and flies with it as well. The last thing I heard moments ago is that the shooter hated the Mormon church. Whether that's true or not, who knows.

I think it's been said he's got a history of mental health issues ( duh ).

What I do not like are people jumping to conclusions about his political stance.
As in one remark I read "Figures, probably a Trump supporter"..
Could be that he's had a bone to pick with the church in general.