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A gunman rammed his vehicle through the front doors of a Mormon church during Sunday services and opened fire on congregants, killing at least one person and wounding nine others before police fatally shot the attacker, authorities said.
The 40-year-old suspect from Burton, Michigan, drove into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc around midday and immediately began firing multiple rounds at worshippers attending what police described as a large service, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said during a news conference.
"He drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church," Renye said. "He then exited his vehicle firing several rounds at individuals within the church."
Officers responding to the scene killed the gunman, whose identity has not been released. Ten gunshot victims, including some in critical condition, were transported to local hospitals, with children among the wounded, according to a source familiar with the situation.
The attack escalated when the suspect deliberately set fire to the church building, creating a massive blaze that firefighters battled for hours before extinguishing it Sunday afternoon. Thick clouds of smoke poured from the building as emergency responders lined the streets of the Detroit suburb.
"There was a fire that occurred and we believe that was deliberately set by the suspect," Renye said. "That fire was just extinguished by the Grand Blanc Township Fire Department within the past hour."
Authorities expect the death toll to rise as they search the charred building once it's deemed safe to enter.
"We do believe that we will find additional victims once we have that scene secure," Renye said.
President Donald Trump denounced the attack as "another targeted attack on Christians" in a post on his Truth Social platform Sunday evening.
"The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America," Trump wrote.
The president's statement came hours after other officials condemned the violence. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said her "heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community," calling violence at places of worship "unacceptable."
Attorney General Pam Bondi described the incident as a "horrific shooting and fire," announcing that the FBI and ATF would assist local authorities in the investigation. FBI Director Kash Patel called the violence "a cowardly and criminal act."
Grand Blanc, located about an hour north of Detroit in the Flint metropolitan area, is home to approximately 8,000 residents. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints typically holds multiple services on Sundays, often drawing large congregations including families with children.
The incident marks another deadly attack on a religious institution, continuing a troubling pattern of violence targeting places of worship across the United States in recent years.
Police have cordoned off the area and urged residents to avoid the vicinity as the investigation continues.
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