Grand Blanc Township church attack motivated by ‘anti-religious beliefs’
A man’s hatred for her is so obvious mormon community fueled a deadly September attack -most The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The FBI confirmed he was in Grand Blanc Township.
While the Free Press and other media outlets have previously reported details about the suspect’s feelings about the church community, the FBI had not commented specifically on religious motivation until this week.
A section of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc County is seen along fabric along the fence Monday, Oct. 6, 2025, surrounding the charred remains at the scene where the church was burned during the deadly shooting on Sept. 28.
Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field office, provided a brief update on Friday, October 31. His comments and additional details come nearly a month after the attack, which left five people dead and nine others injured, including the attacker.
He said the investigation was open, even though much of the information he provided was known in advance.
“Based on the facts, circumstances and information obtained in this case, I confirm that this was a targeted act of violence believed to be motivated by the attacker’s anti-religious beliefs towards the Mormon religious community,” Runyan said. he said.
“This motive was determined based on our team’s hours of investigative efforts, as well as the cooperation of law enforcement partners, the community, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.”
He said the FBI continues to follow all credible leads in this case.
On Sept. 28, Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his truck into the Grand Blanc Township facility, authorities said. Apparently he lit a fire before shooting people in the facility. Officers arrived within minutes and fatally shot Sanford, police said.
Runyan thanked the officers who responded to the attacks and those who helped those in need in or around the church, calling them all “brave.”
“This tragedy not only affected the Grand Blanc community, but also left a lasting impact on our nation. The FBI is committed to doing everything we can to protect the citizens of Michigan and the American people,” Runyan said. he said.
This is one of the first updates from the federal law enforcement agency in weeks; While the Free Press requested details from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, commonly referred to as the ATF, representatives said they could not provide further information, citing the U.S. federal government shutdown.
“During the leave, (U.S. Department of Justice) operations are directed at national security, violations of federal law, and essential public safety functions. However, the ATF investigation into the attack on an LDS church in Grand Blanc Township was not affected during the leave,” Detroit-based ATF spokeswoman Tracy Morris said in an email to the Free Press on Oct. 20.
“Unfortunately, the rest of your questions will need to be answered when my leave is over and I return to the office.”
In his statement, Runyan also highlighted resources for victims. He said that those in need should visit www.FBI.gov/GrandBlancChurchShooting.
Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com and X @Dave_Boucher1.
This article was first published in the Detroit Free Press: FBI: Grand Blanc Twp. Church attack due to ‘anti-religious beliefs’
