Grand Blanc Township, Michigan — A quiet Sunday service turned into one of the darkest days in Grand Blanc’s history when a heavily armed gunman stormed a Latter-day Saints church, leaving two people dead, at least nine wounded, and the building itself in flames. Authorities have identified the attacker as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a Marine veteran who once served in Iraq.

The violence erupted just after noon on Sunday when Sanford rammed his Chevy Silverado truck into the side of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. According to investigators, the impact was only the beginning. Sanford then emerged armed with a semi-automatic rifle and opened fire on panicked congregants scrambling to escape. Witnesses described a scene of chaos and horror as families ducked under pews, parents shielded children, and others ran for the exits as bullets tore through the sanctuary.

“He came in like he wanted to take the whole place down,” said one shaken survivor, still covered in soot hours later. “We heard the truck crash, then gunshots, and then screaming everywhere. People were just running for their lives.”

Moments later, flames began to engulf the building. It remains unclear whether Sanford ignited the blaze himself, but authorities confirmed the discovery of improvised explosive devices around the church grounds. A bomb squad worked late into the evening to secure the area while firefighters battled the inferno, which consumed nearly the entire structure. Aerial footage showed massive plumes of black smoke rising into the Michigan sky, visible for miles.

Police engaged Sanford in a shootout outside the church, during which the gunman was killed. Officers described the scene as “an active battlefield,” with rounds exchanged as terrified survivors continued to flee.

The violence left a community reeling. Hundreds of worshippers had gathered for services, and while many escaped, officials warned that additional victims may still be found once the burned-out structure can be safely searched. Grand Blanc Township Police Chief David Robson called it “a day of unimaginable tragedy.”

Sanford’s background has only deepened the shock. According to his mother’s Facebook page, he served with the U.S. Marines in Iraq from 2004 to 2008. Photographs show him in uniform, a young man smiling with fellow soldiers. Yet social media accounts connected to him also show another side — a husband and father, often pictured with his wife and young son, their smiles framed by sunflowers or the back of a pickup truck.

That child, now 10, was born with a rare genetic condition, congenital hyperinsulinism, which required significant medical care. A GoFundMe campaign launched in 2015 raised over $3,000 to support the family during his early years. For those who knew the Sanfords, the images of a father cradling his sick child now stand in haunting contrast to the violence of Sunday’s attack.

Authorities have yet to establish a clear motive. Investigators are combing through Sanford’s personal history, including his military service, possible struggles with post-traumatic stress, and any signs of radicalization or grievances with the church. Friends and neighbors expressed disbelief that the man they once waved to across suburban lawns could commit such horror.

“I knew Tom as the guy who was always tinkering with his truck in the driveway,” said a Burton resident who lived near the family. “He loved his boy. Whatever happened inside him to turn him into this — it’s beyond me.”

As the investigation unfolds, the focus has turned to the victims. Two lives were confirmed lost by evening, with nine others rushed to area hospitals, some in critical condition. The church congregation, part of a close-knit faith community, gathered in nearby homes and parking lots, praying through tears as they awaited word on missing loved ones.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the attack “an act of senseless violence against people of faith.” She vowed full support for the victims’ families and praised first responders who “risked their lives to confront chaos and protect their neighbors.”

For Grand Blanc, the scars will run deep. The LDS church building, once a place of worship and safety, now lies in ruins. The community is left grappling with the unthinkable: that one of their own, a father, a veteran, a man once trusted with defending his country, turned his fury on unarmed worshippers in a house of God.

“We will rebuild, but we will never forget,” said one church elder, his voice breaking. “We will carry the memory of this day, and the names of those we lost, in every prayer we say from here forward.”

As investigators sift through the ashes, one truth stands out — in Grand Blanc Township, faith and family were tested by fire and bullets, and though the community is wounded, its spirit endures.