Shooting and arson attack at Mormon church in Michigan, leaving 5 dead
發佈日期: 2025-09-29 21:00
TVB News
A mass shooting and arson attack at a Mormon church near Detroit in the United States has left five people, including the gunman, dead and at least eight others injured.
A place of worship just north of Detroit on fire. Inside, multiple people shot by a gunman.
An ex-Marine who had driven through the front doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and began firing an assault weapon at parishioners during the Sunday morning service.
Some of the dead were shot, others burnt alive, unable to get out. Fire trucks, ambulances and police on the scene.
Stunned worshipers walked away from the church service knowing they were lucky to be alive.
Grand Blanc Police Chief William Rayne praised those inside, "They were shielding the children who were also present within the church, moving them to safety. Just hundreds of people just practicing their faith, just extreme courage, brave and that's the type of community that we are.
Police say they had officers on the scene within one minute.
Those officers gunned down the armed suspect in the parking lot around seven minutes after arrival.
The attacker identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old resident of Burton, Michigan.
The blaze he started took several hours for fire crews to control and then extinguish.
Investigators said it made escape for some impossible. The church has been completely destroyed. More victims were found in the burnt out building.
James Deir from the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Bureau, is part of the investigating team: "At this point I'm not going to comment on IEDs (improvised explosive devices). I will confirm that there were some suspected explosive devices that were located, but as far as using them to initiate the blaze, I can't say that.
Other churches were searched because of bomb threats made in 911 calls.
This incident is being investigated as an "act of targeted violence."
A motive has not yet been established.
