Michigan shooting: Four dead, eight injured at Mormon church— video shows ‘church on fire’

A gunman opened fire during a Sunday service at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan, killing at least four people and injuring eight others before setting the building on fire, AP reported, citing authorities that police shot the suspect to stop the attack.

"Hundreds of people were inside the church in Grand Blanc Township when a man rammed a four-door pickup with two American flags in the truck bed through the front door, then got out of the vehicle and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters. Investigators believe he “deliberately” set the building on fire," Renye said.

Officers responded to a 911 call and were at the church within 30 seconds. The shooter was killed about seven minutes later, Renye said. After the suspect left the church, two officers pursued him and “engaged in gunfire,” the chief said.

Flames and thick smoke billowed from the church for hours before firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze.

The shooting occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, about 50 miles north of Detroit, according to a social media post by local police.

A video circulating online showed thick billows of smoke coming out of the church.

In a Facebook post, the Grand Blanc Township Police Department said there is “No threat to the public at this time” and that “the church is actively on fire.”

According to the New York Post, authorities directed people on site to a reunification pavilion to the north and said offsite reunification was being held at the Trillium Theater at Holly and McCandlish.

Residents were urged: “PLEASE AVOID THE AREA!!” Further details, including the condition of the victims, were not immediately released by police.

Who is the suspect?

Authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford from the nearby city of Burton. At a press conference on Sunday evening, Police Chief Renye did not disclose a motive for the attack. Officers had cordoned off the road leading to Sanford’s home, and investigators were actively searching the residence.

Chief Renye reported that one of the eight injured victims was in critical condition, while the others were stable. He added that more victims might be found once crews could thoroughly search the fire-damaged building.

As of now, the motive behind the attack remains unclear. Authorities have not confirmed whether Sanford had any connection to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Minneapolis catholic school shooting

The mass shooting at the Mormon church in Michigan happened just a month after a heavily armed shooter, identified as Robin Westman, opened fire at school children attending a church service in Minneapolis. The attack took place at Annunciation Catholic Church on August 27, during an all-school Mass.

Two pupils were killed, and 17 people were injured in the violence. "Two young children, ages eight and 10, were killed where they sat in the pews," an official said.

The shooter, 23-year-old Robin Westman, reportedly fired a rifle, shotgun and pistol before dying by suicide in the parking lot.

Federal officials referred to Westman as transgender, and the mayor decried hatred being directed at “our transgender community,” the Associated Press reported.

A YouTube channel titled Robin W had at least two videos that were captured before being taken down by the site. According to reports, he had uploaded a YouTube short showing his manifesto just hours before opening fire at Annunciation Catholic School.

In one video that lasted about 10 minutes, the alleged shooter shows weapons and ammunition. Many have sayings written on them, including the phrases “kill Donald Trump” and “Where is your God?” Some are in Cyrillic.

It was the latest of many shooting attacks on houses of worship in the US over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.

US President Donald Trump said in a social media post that he was briefed on the shooting and applauded the FBI for its response. Local authorities said the FBI was sending 100 agents to Grand Blanc Township, a community of roughly 40,000 people outside Flint.

“PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote.

Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that her heart was breaking for the community. “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” she said.

The impact spread quickly to neighbouring communities, including the small city that shares a name with the township.

“Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very cohesive community,” said city of Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey. “This sort of thing is painful for our entire community.”

(With inputs from agencies)