Shocking attack on Michigan church

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP Mich A gunman opened fire inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan during a Sunday provision and set the building ablaze killing at least four people and injuring eight others Police shot and killed the suspect government revealed 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 automobile and started shooting Police Chief William Renye recounted reporters Investigators believe he deliberately set the building on fire Renye reported Officers responded to a call and were at the church within seconds and killed the shooter about eight minutes later Renye reported After the suspect left the church two officers pursued him and engaged in gunfire the chief stated Flames and smoke could be seen pouring from the church for hours before the blaze was put out Renye identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford from neighboring Burton Reyne did not specify a motive at a news conference on Sunday evening Police cordoned off the street leading to the suspect s home Renye declared one of the wounded people was in critical condition Sunday evening and seven others were stable The bodies of two of the casualties were detected as functionaries searched the debris in the church Renye commented emphasizing the search was continuing and that more casualties could be revealed Earlier in the day Renye had mentioned agents presumed they would find more casualties once they could sift through the wreckage and find where the fire was Motive not yet clear Investigators were searching the suspect s residence in nearby Burton Administration did not provide any additional details about the suspect including whether he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints widely known as the Mormon church It was the latest of several shooting attacks on houses of worship in the U S over the past years including one in August that killed two children during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis President Donald Trump explained in a social media post that he was briefed on the shooting and applauded the FBI for its response Local administration noted the FBI was sending agents to Grand Blanc Township a population of roughly people outside Flint PRAY for the casualties and their families THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END THIS INSTANT Trump wrote The church building circled by a parking lot and a large lawn is near residential areas and a Jehovah s Witness church Brad Schneemann whose home is about yards from the church stated that he and his daughter heard two rounds of four to five shots around a m Then we really didn t hear anything for a while before they left their home to see what was going on Tight-knit church society Timothy Jones explained his family is part of another Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation or ward about minutes away but that his children were at the Grand Blanc Township ward Saturday night for a youth fall festival He and his family moved to Flint two years ago in large part because of how strong the faith s group is in the area he disclosed As people in his congregation got word of the shooting from texts and phone calls during their Sunday facility his ward went into lockdown and police came as a precaution he declared His children were frantically just trying to get word that people were OK Sundays are supposed to be a time of peace and a time of reflection and worship Jones announced Yet in the wake of violence at other houses of worship a shooting feels inevitable and all the more tragic because of that he added The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M Nelson the oldest-ever president of the Utah-based faith died at The next president is expected to be Dallin H Oaks per church protocol The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the analysis continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected spokesperson Doug Anderson announced Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking prayer and connection We pray for peace and healing for all involved The impact of the shooting spread throughout the area When striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital heard about the shooting selected left the picket line and ran the short distance to the church to help first responders Teamsters Local President Dan Glass stated Human lives matter more than our labor dispute Glass revealed Michigan Gov Gretchen Whitmer announced in a message that her heart was developing for the society Violence anywhere especially in a place of worship is unacceptable she mentioned A van that was rammed into the building is surrounded by smoke at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Mich Sunday Lukas Katilius The Flint Journal via AP In this image taken from video circulated by Julie J Malkowski April Massive flames and smoke rise from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc about miles north of Detroit Sunday Julie J Malkowski April via AP