GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, USA — A Sunday worship service turned into tragedy when a gunman rammed his vehicle into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, opened fire on congregants and set a blaze that engulfed the building, authorities said.
At least one person has been confirmed dead and nine others wounded, including children, according to police in the attack which occurred on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
Several of the victims remain in critical condition.
Officials have warned that more bodies may be found as investigators enter the church after the fire is fully contained.
The Attack
Police Chief William Renye said the assailant, a 40-year-old man from Burton, Michigan, drove through the church’s front doors during a large Sunday service attended by hundreds.
Armed with an assault rifle, he began firing rounds at worshippers before setting the building on fire.
“There was a fire that occurred and we believe that was deliberately set by the suspect,” Renye said.
“We do believe that we will find additional victims once we’re able to search.”
Officers from the Grand Blanc Township Police and the state’s Department of Natural Resources exchanged fire with the gunman inside the church and killed him.
A suspicious item found on the property prompted the deployment of a state police bomb squad.
Emergency Response
Images from the scene showed thick smoke billowing from the burning building as emergency crews battled the blaze.
Witnesses reported chaos as parishioners fled the sanctuary. Patients were transported to area hospitals throughout the morning.
The FBI has deployed about 100 agents to assist in collecting witness statements and investigating the gunman’s background.
Authorities said they will execute a search warrant at his residence and examine his phone records to determine a motive.
Church and Community Reaction
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints confirmed the attack in a statement, describing it as a “tragic act of violence.”
Church spokesperson Doug Andersen said, “We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”
The shooting occurred just one day after the death of Russell M. Nelson, the 101-year-old president of the church, who led the global faith since 2018.
Political Leaders Respond
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the incident “unacceptable.”
“My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community,” she wrote on X.
“Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.”
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) September 28, 2025
President Donald Trump said he had been briefed on the “horrendous shooting,” calling it “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.”
He added, “PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel both pledged federal support, condemning the attack as “cowardly and criminal.”
Broader Context
The attack adds to a grim tally of violence in the United States this year.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 324 mass shootings so far in 2025.
The Grand Blanc incident came less than 24 hours after a gunman opened fire at a bar in Southport, North Carolina, killing three people and wounding eight others.
It also follows a series of attacks targeting houses of worship in recent months, including an August shooting at a Minneapolis church that killed two children and a September arson attack at a synagogue in Florida.
Authorities in Grand Blanc Township said they would provide further details at a scheduled news conference at 5 p.m. ET.
