Beyond the Dome: Tragedy strikes Michigan community

By: Katie Dusza, Asst. News Editor

On Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025 at 10:25 a.m., an armed gunman in a pickup truck bearing two American flags rammed into a church in Grand Blanc Township, MI, setting the vehicle ablaze and opening fire on hundreds of churchgoers. The man, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, killed four and injured at least 10, along with several people unaccounted for. Sanford was an Iraq War veteran. According to authorities, Sanford was dead within eight minutes by police. Two church attendees were killed by gunshot wounds, while the bodies of two others have been discovered in the debris. 

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye reported that officers arrived at the scene 25 seconds after the first 911 call. He also heavily praised the heroism of the congregation. "They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety," Renye said. “Hundreds of people just practicing their faith, just extreme courage. Brave. And that's the type of community that we are."

Authorities say this may be a “targeted act of violence.” While there is currently no clear motivation, Sanford was reported acting oddly prior to the attack, he made some comments about the Mormon faith weeks before the attack. According to some who knew him, he held a deep resentment toward the faith, partially due to a breakup with a Mormon girlfriend over a decade ago. He dated this woman when he lived in Utah. During this time period, Sanford was heavily abusing drugs. He commonly referred to the LDS church as the antichrist. 

Another friend reported that two days prior to the attack, Sanford sped his truck at her and her sixteen-year-old daughter. He claimed the incident was a joke; however, the friend found this behavior out of character for Sanford. 

Some of the shooter’s family members have spoken out, condemning his actions. The shooter's father said in a statement to 7 News Detroit, "I feel so bad about the families that were affected by this, aside from ours. We’re not the only ones going through this devastation. We are beside ourselves." 

Another local news station received a statement from some of Sanford’s extended family members: “As Jake’s extended family, we are devastated by what he did. None of us can make sense of why he would do something so horrifying. We don’t have answers, and we are waiting on investigators to finish their work. Even then, we know nothing will make this right.”