Deadly Michigan church attack was motivated by antireligious beliefs, FBI says Dave Boucher and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY NETWORK November 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM 13 DETROIT — A former Marine who opened fire at a Michigan church and set the building ablaze in late September was motivated by antireligious beliefs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.
- - Deadly Michigan church attack was motivated by anti-religious beliefs, FBI says
Dave Boucher and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY NETWORK November 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
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DETROIT — A former Marine who opened fire at a Michigan church and set the building ablaze in late September was motivated by anti-religious beliefs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.
While the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, previously reported that the suspect in the deadly attack had expressed disdain toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the FBI initially did not share details on a possible motive in what they called an "act of targeted violence."
About a month after the attack, the FBI revealed the suspected motive in a brief update on Oct. 31. The agency did not provide further information on how investigators determined the motive but Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge at the FBI Detroit field office, said it was "based upon countless hours of investigative efforts."
"Based upon the facts, circumstances, and information obtained in this case, I am confirming that this is a targeted act of violence believed to be motivated by the assailant's anti-religious beliefs against the Mormon religious community," Runyan said in a video statement.
The gunman, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, had opened fire on hundreds of worshippers inside the church in Grand Blanc Township on Sept. 28. At some point, Sanford set the church on fire before he was fatally shot by responding officers.
Four people were killed in the attack, and Runyan said in the update that nine people were injured. Authorities had previously said eight people were wounded.
Runyan noted that the investigation remains ongoing and the FBI is pursuing all credible leads related to this case. Since the attack, Runyan said the FBI has provided more than 100 personnel to investigate the incident, including special agents and intelligence analysts.
"I would like the entire Grand Blanc community to know that we stand with you. We remember those who are no longer with us and continue to hold in our thoughts those who are still recovering," Runyan said. "This tragedy not only affected the Grand Blanc community but also left a lasting impact on our nation."
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Federal authorities previously declined to share information on case
The update on Oct. 31 was one of the first updates from federal law enforcement in weeks. The Free Press asked for details from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives but representatives said they could not provide more information, citing the federal government shutdown.
"During the furlough, (U.S. Department of Justice) operations are directed toward national security, violations of federal law, and essential public safety functions. With that being said, the ATF investigation of the attack at an LDS church in Grand Blanc Township has not been affected during the furlough," Tracy Morris, a Detroit-based ATF spokesperson, said in an email to the Free Press on Oct. 20.
"Unfortunately, the rest of your questions will have to be answered once the furlough is over and I am back in the office."
A section of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township is seen on Oct. 6, 2025, through fabric along the fencing surrounding the charred remains at the scene where the church was burned down.What happened in the Grand Blanc church shooting?
The attack unfolded shortly before 10:30 a.m. local time on Sept. 28, while hundreds of people were attending morning services.
Authorities said Sanford had rammed a pickup truck bearing two American flags into the chapel and used an assault rifle to open fire. He also used gasoline to set the building on fire, which reduced much of the church to rubble.
Two law enforcement officers, who responded to the scene within 30 seconds of the first 911 call, shot and killed Sanford in the church parking lot within minutes of the shooting, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye previously said.
Two churchgoers died of gunshot wounds. The bodies of two other worshippers were discovered in the rubble of the chapel hours later.
Grand Blanc Township, a suburb of Flint, Michigan, is about 60 miles northwest of Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of about 7,700 people.
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Who was Thomas Jacob Sanford?
Sanford lived in Burton, Michigan, just miles from the church where the attack occurred. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008, including a stint in the Middle East, and was awarded several medals and commendations.
About a week before the shooting, Sanford went on a tirade against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and called Mormons "the Antichrist," according to Kris Johns, a candidate for the local Burton City Council.
Johns was canvassing when he knocked on Sanford's door, and the two men discussed religion, Sanford's time in the military, their children, and battles with addiction.
"It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook," said Johns, adding that Sanford was "not a forgettable guy."
Contributing: Jeanine Santucci and Christopher Cann, USA TODAY; Andrea May Sahouri and John Wisely, Detroit Free Press
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan church attack motivated by anti-religious beliefs, FBI says
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