Summary

  • Officials say a shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan is being treated as an act of targeted violence but a motive is still unknown

  • Five people, including a suspect, were killed in the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday

  • Police say a gunman drove a vehicle into the church, opened fire and set the building ablaze

  • The suspect, named as Thomas Jacob Sanford, was killed after officers "engaged in gunfire" with him in the church car park, police say - BBC Verify looks at what we know about him

  • Everyone has been accounted for and officials are no longer searching for people in the remains of the church, Grand Blanc's police chief says

Media caption,

Watch: Drone footage shows fire at Michigan church

  1. Watch: Church-goers sheltered children in act of 'heroism', say policepublished at 01:32 BST 29 September

    Michigan police have also commented on the moment when the church-goers responded to the shooting incident, and how they sheltered children at a critical time.

  2. 'All indications' suspect used accelerant to start firepublished at 01:28 BST 29 September

    "All indications" point to the suspect using an accelerant to light the church on fire, according to James Deir, Special Agent in Charge at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

    He adds that authorities believe the accelerant the suspect used was gasoline.

    Responding to a question about improvised explosive devices (IEDs), he says that some suspected explosive devices were found at the scene, but that officials cannot say whether the suspect used that to start the fire.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Suspect used accelerant to light church fire, police say

  3. Watch: Michigan police update number of victimspublished at 01:21 BST 29 September

    Just a short while ago, the local police gave an update on the rising number of victims in the Mormon church shooting.

    Media caption,

    Watch: Michigan police update number of victims

  4. Michigan church attack a 'targeted act of violence' - FBIpublished at 01:19 BST 29 September

    FBI agent Reuben Coleman has called the Michigan church shooting a "targeted act of violence", confirming that the FBI is now leading the investigation.

    He says that FBI crisis response teams, SWAT, victim specialists and bomb technicians have been deployed to the scene.

  5. Entire church 'not yet been cleared' - with some still unaccounted forpublished at 01:18 BST 29 September

    William Renye says that the first responders are now in "recovery mode" and that they "have not cleared the entire church just yet", because of the extent of fire damage.

    He says he doesn't know how many people are unaccounted for, but that he knows that "some" people are still unaccounted for.

    Two of the victims died from gunshot wounds, he adds.

  6. Suspect 'neutralised within eight minutes'published at 01:13 BST 29 September

    The suspect was neutralised by officers within eight minutes of the first call to authorities, according to William Reneye, who acknowledged the "heroism" of first responders.

    He adds in the press conference that they will be working all night on the investigation alongside the FBI.

  7. Four victims in 'tragic incident' - police chiefpublished at 01:12 BST 29 September

    William Renye

    The press conference has just started.

    Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye has confirmed that an additional two victims have been found inside the Michigan church.

    That brings the death toll up to four victims, in addition to the gunman.

  8. Police updates coming up shortlypublished at 01:02 BST 29 September

    Police are expected to give a further update following the shooting and fire at a Michigan Mormon church.

    We'll be bringing you the latest. Stick with us, and join us live via the Watch Live button at the top of this page.

  9. Vance condemns 'awful situation' in Michiganpublished at 00:49 BST 29 September

    JD Vance stands in front to the US flag in a blue blazer, white shirt and red knitted tie.Image source, Reuters

    Vice-President JD Vance has called for prayers for the "victims and first responders" in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

    In a post on X, he said: "Just an awful situation in Michigan. FBI is on the scene and the entire administration is monitoring things."

  10. Michigan shooting suspect was a veteran, CBS reportspublished at 00:14 BST 29 September

    The suspect, identified by officials as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was a Marines Corps veteran, the BBC's US media partner CBS has reported.

    Authorities are still yet to confirm a motive for the attack, and are expected to provide the next update at 20:00 local time (00:00 GMT).

  11. Police in US increase protection at religious institutionspublished at 23:40 BST 28 September

    Following the events at a church in Michigan, New York Police Department says it is now "deploying additional resources to religious institutions across the city".

    Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also says that her city's officers will "increase patrols at places of worship" across LA.

    "This type of violence is reprehensible and should have no place in our country," she writes on social media.

  12. Trump calls shooting 'another targeted attack on Christians' - what does he mean?published at 23:08 BST 28 September

    Annunciation Catholic ChurchImage source, Getty Images

    As we reported earlier, when Donald Trump responded to today's events in Michigan, he called it "yet another targeted attack on Christians" in the US.

    Police have not yet confirmed the suspect's motives, but today's incident follows another shooting at a church last month, when an attack in Minneapolis saw a gunman open fire on school pupils as they were praying.

    Robin Westman killed two children and injured 18 others after approaching the side of Annunciation Church and firing dozens of shots through windows using three firearms.

    Westman died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and police said a definitive motive for the attack may never be known.

    "The shooter expressed hate towards many groups, including the Jewish community and towards President Trump," US Attorney General for Minnesota Joseph Thompson said.

  13. In pictures: burnt-out church where attack took placepublished at 22:45 BST 28 September

    We're now seeing some of the first images outside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as local officials work to put out a fire that started after the shooting.

    Law enforcement officers work near burnt-out churchImage source, Reuters
    Burnt church and flagImage source, Getty Images
    Fire enginesImage source, Getty Images
    Burnt church with fire engines outsideImage source, Getty Images
  14. What did we just learn from the police briefing?published at 22:30 BST 28 September

    Chief of Police William Renye speaks to reporters during a press conferenceImage source, Getty Images

    Here’s a summary of what Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye has just told reporters during a short press briefing:

    • The suspect is named as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, from nearby Burton
    • Police received a call about the incident at 10:25 local time (15:25 BST), and the suspect died at 10:33 after officers "engaged in gunfire" with him in the church car park
    • Two people were killed in the attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    • A further eight people were injured - seven are in a stable condition, while one person is described as "critical"
    • The next update will come at 20:00 local time
  15. News conference ends - another update scheduled laterpublished at 22:10 BST 28 September

    Police Chief Renye ended the brief news conference by saying officials will be back at 20:00 local time (01:00 BST) for another update.

  16. Seven injured in stable condition - one in critical conditionpublished at 22:09 BST 28 September

    Renye says seven people are in a stable condition, and one is in a critical condition.

    Two people, as well as the suspect Sanford, have died.

    He reads out a number families can ring, which we provided earlier, and says the "community is hurting right now".

    Renye adds that there will be services at an athletic club to support the community.

  17. Suspect named by police as Thomas Jacob Sanfordpublished at 22:05 BST 28 September
    Breaking

    Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye takes the podium, flanked by other local officials including the local US attorney general, an FBI representative, the local fire chief and sheriff.

    He repeats some of the details we heard earlier, saying a call was received at 10:25 local time.

    The suspect was killed at 10:33 after officers "engaged in gunfire" with him in the church car park, he says.

    The suspect is then identified as 40-year-old male Thomas Jacob Sanford from Burton.

  18. News conference gets under waypublished at 22:01 BST 28 September
    Breaking

    Police chief RenyeImage source, Reuters

    The Grand Blanc police press conference is starting now.

    You can watch live at the top of the page, and we'll bring you the key points here - so stick with us.

  19. Injured being treated at Henry Ford Genesys Hospitalpublished at 21:53 BST 28 September

    Henry Ford Genesys Hospital says it’s caring for people injured in the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    “Our hearts go out to our patients, their families, and the community – including the people worshipping when the tragic act of violence occurred,” a Henry Ford health spokesperson says.

    The hospital confirmed nine people are receiving medical attention.

    Police earlier said nine people had been injured, and later another person died from gunshot wounds while in hospital.

    It’s not clear whether the latest fatality was one of the nine receiving care, but we’ll bring you that information when we get it.

  20. Church attack comes a day after president of Mormon Church diedpublished at 21:30 BST 28 September

    Russell M Nelson sits on a chairImage source, Getty Images

    Before today's events, the president of the Mormon Church - officially known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - died yesterday.

    Russell M Nelson was 101 when he died at his home in Salt Lake City.

    In a social media post after the shooting in Michigan today, Trump says Nelson was "sharp and engaged in service up until the end".

    "He was a physician, literally and spiritually, and will be greatly missed," he adds.

    Nelson is survived by his wife, Wendy, eight of his 10 children, 57 grandchildren, and more than 167 great-grandchildren.