Gunman Attacks MI Church: 1 Dead, 9 Injured in Shooting and Firebombing

A tragic incident occurred at a Mormon church in Michigan where at least one individual lost their life, and several others are in critical condition following an attack by a gunman who set the building ablaze before shooting at attendees. 

Authorities reported that a 40-year-old male unleashed gunfire on a gathering of over a hundred people during a service at the Church of Latter Day Saints located in Grand Blanc on Sunday.

The unnamed suspect, who authorities have said was from nearby Burton, was shot dead by officers at the scene as flamed engulfed the church. 

According to Grand Blanc Township Police Department Chief William Renye, the attacker drove his vehicle through the church’s front entrance and began discharging his weapon. 

Renye told a press conference that detectives are ‘still determining how the fire started’ but police believe it was ‘deliberately set by the suspect’. 

‘Ten gunshot victims have been transported to local hospitals at this time including one who has been confirmed deceased,’ Renye said. 

‘We do believe we will find additional victims once the scene has been secured,’ he added, implying that police believe some congregants burned alive. 

‘The (church) service was active,’ Renye said. ‘There were more than a hundred people inside the church at the time.’ 

Grand Blanc is a suburb of Flint, located around 60 miles northwest of central Detroit. 

Photographs and video shared on social media show a fire tearing through the church with a large plume of smoke overhead. 

Emergency vehicles could be seen parked outside as first responders rushed to help the wounded. 

At least one person was carried away from the scene on a stretcher as smoke spread in all directions.  

The shooter has not been publicly identified. A motive for the violent rampage has not been given. 

Writing on social media, several witnesses said at least four people had been killed, though police have not published an official death toll. 

One witness said the church had been ‘completely destroyed’ by the blaze, and that they saw the shooter’s truck parked in front of the building. 

Sheriff Swanson of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said ‘the entire church is on fire’ as he spoke in a live video from the scene. 

‘We do have multiple victims,’ he added. 

Police said just before 1pm that the fire had been ‘contained’.

‘We do not have names of victims at his time,’ police said.  

Daily Mail has reached out to the sheriff’s office and Grand Blanc Township Police Department for more information. 

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the atrocity in an X post. 

‘My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community,’ she wrote. ‘Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable.

‘I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. 

‘We will continue to monitor this situation and hold the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc close.’  

This is a breaking news story with updates to follow.