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On September 28, 2025, a horrifying attack struck a house of worship in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan when a gunman drove into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, opened fire on congregants and set the building ablaze. The violence unfolded in minutes and left a tight-knit community reeling, proving once again that no place — not even a church — is automatically safe anymore.
Authorities have identified the suspect as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former U.S. Marine reportedly killed by police at the scene, and federal agents are treating the assault as a deliberate, targeted act. The FBI’s classification as “targeted” should strip away any comfort offered by vague explanations and force Americans to face the reality that religious communities are being singled out.
Initial reports confirm multiple fatalities and several more wounded, with first responders battling both gunfire and a fast-moving blaze inside the meetinghouse. Families searching for loved ones were met with smoke, cries and the worst fears any parent can imagine, a brutal reminder that cowardly violence has been allowed to metastasize in our towns.
Investigators are combing the suspect’s devices and property to determine motive, and officials say they are probing for any signs of planning or broader intent; meanwhile, other houses of worship reported threats in the chaotic aftermath. The lack of a clear motive so far does not lessen the fact that this was a precise assault on worshippers, and federal involvement underscores how serious and sinister this attack appears.
Americans of faith shouldn’t have to plead for basic security while politicians play word games and push platitudes. Churches and synagogues must be allowed to protect their people — through trained security teams, sensible law enforcement presence, and the right of responsible citizens to defend their communities — because soft-on-crime postures and hollow speeches do nothing when an armed attacker shows up.
We must honor the fallen by demanding more than condolences: support first responders, provide resources to protect houses of worship, and stop normalizing violence by pretending these are random, unavoidable tragedies. Political leaders on both sides should stop scapegoating lawful gun owners and instead work with communities to harden soft targets, hold perpetrators accountable, and restore safety to Sunday services across this nation.
