4 Dead, 8 Injured in Michigan Church Shooting and Fire

At least four people were killed and eight others injured in an armed attack and subsequent fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on September 28. Authorities have reported that the suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was killed in a shootout with police.

The events began around 10:25 a.m. local time, as hundreds of people were attending Sunday services. According to police, Sanford drove his car through the church's front doors, then got out and opened fire on the attendees with an automatic rifle. Immediately after, a fire broke out in the church, which authorities believe was deliberately set by the attacker.

Eyewitnesses said they first heard a loud explosion, after which people began to run out of the church in a panic.

According to Police Chief William Renee, two law enforcement officers who arrived at the scene engaged in a shootout with the suspect, killing him in the parking lot. Initially, two people were reported dead, but two more bodies were later found in the ashes of the fire. Authorities do not rule out that the death toll could rise, as search efforts are ongoing.

The eight injured were taken to the hospital. One of them is in critical condition, while the other seven are stable.

The motives for the attack are still unknown. The investigation is being conducted by local, state, and federal authorities, including the FBI. Law enforcement officers are preparing to search Sanford's home and examine his phone records to determine possible motives. It is known that Sanford is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008.