By Steve Neavling
At least four people were killed and several others wounded Sunday after a man rammed a pickup into a Grand Blanc church, opened fire with a rifle, and set the building on fire, authorities said.
The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, died after exchanging gunfire with police in the parking lot, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said, the USA Today Network reports.
Hundreds were inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when Sanford drove into the building, fired “several rounds” with an assault rifle, and “deliberately” set the church ablaze, Renye said. Fire crews later extinguished the blaze.
Ten people were shot, including two who died. Seven victims were listed in stable condition and one was critical, Renye said. Two additional bodies were discovered inside the church.
The FBI is leading the investigation and treating the case “as an act of targeted violence,” said Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of the Detroit field office.
“This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country,” Coleman said. “The FBI is committed to continue finding out the facts, circumstances, and motives behind this tragedy.”
