In a shocking incident that unfolded on Sunday in Grand Blanc, Michigan, a 40-year-old man crashed his car into the Mormon church, opened fire on worshippers, and set the building ablaze. The suspect killed at least four people and injured eight others with an assault rifle before dying in a shootout with the police.
According to the Police, the perpetrator is identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former American Marine from Burton town. He deliberately set fire to the church in Michigan, which was consumed by flames and plumes of smoke. The attack took place during a large service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said the gunman fired several rounds at the worshippers after exiting his vehicle. Two law enforcement officers engaged in a shootout and neutralized the suspect. “There are some that are unaccounted for,” he said.
Initial reports confirmed two casualties, but hours after the attack, police recovered two more bodies from the charred remains of the church building, Reuters reported. Within 30 seconds of receiving the shooting news, two officers rushed to the site, where hundreds were present.
Eight minutes later, they shot the gunmen in the parking lot area, Renye said in a press conference. The motive of Sanford remains unclear as of now. US military records show that he served as a US Marine from 2004 to 2008 and was an Iraq war veteran.
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