Davison Township Police block an intersection near the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc as smoke billows in the background on Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025.
Google Street View of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on McCandlish Rd. in Grand Blanc.
Emergency services are seen near the intersection of Holly Road and McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc on Sunday, Sept 28, 2025.

At least one person has died and 9 others were injured in a mass shooting and fire that occurred at a church in the central Michigan community of Grand Blanc on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 28.

A 40-year-old man drove his vehicle through the front doors of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, a suburb of Flint, Michigan, according to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye. He then exited the vehicle and fired “several rounds” at people inside the church, Renye said at an afternoon news conference.

Ten victims with gunshot wounds, including one victim who was pronounced deceased, were transported to local hospitals. During the incident, the Mormon church was also engulfed in flames and police said they believe there will be more victims because there were people inside the building near the fire that couldn’t get out.

Among those who are hospitalized "multiple victims are in critical condition," Renye said.

Responding officers “engaged in gunfire” with the suspect, according to Renye. “That suspect is no longer with us,” Renye said. Police identified the suspect in the shooting as a deceased man from Burton, a city just north of Grand Blanc.

A service of the Grand Blanc Ward was underway at the time of the shooting and hundreds of church members were believed to be in attendance, Renye said. He added that the suspect used an assault rifle and is believed to have deliberately set the fire, which police have extinguished.

Police said they will be conducting search warrants on the suspect's residence and will look into cellphone records. Several law enforcement agencies were assisting local authorities in the investigation, including 100 FBI agents, Michigan State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“We are heartbroken,” Grand Blanc Township Supervisor Scott Bennett said at the news conference. “This kind of violence doesn't happen in our community, and we are heartbroken that it came to Grand Blanc Township. And we're going to do everything we can to support the families, the victims and our community getting through this situation.”

Police will have another news conference at 5 p.m. ET with more information, Renye said.

Grand Blanc is a suburb of Flint, Michigan. It is about 60 miles northwest of Detroit, Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of about 7,700 people.

Trump responds to Michigan church shooting

In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said the Federal Bureau of Investigation immediately responded to the scene in Grand Blanc. The FBI will be leading the federal investigation into the shooting and will provide "full support" to state and local officials, according to Trump.

"The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn," Trump said in the post. "This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America."

"The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do," he added. "In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

'A tragic act of violence:" Church of Jesus Chris of Latter-day Saints

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement following the shooting, calling the incident a “tragic act of violence.”

"The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected," the church's spokesperson Doug Andersen said in the statement. "We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families."

“We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world,” he said. “In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

Neighbors recount scene outside Michigan church

Phillip Cotter, a Clio resident, stood at the police cordon on the morning of Sept. 28. He said he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc but was not in attendance at the morning service.

"I know everyone who was there," he said, choking up with emotion and tears welling up in his eyes.

"I don't know what God has planned for us, but I trust him," Cotter said.

Grand Blanc resident Tony Deck said he was sitting on his backyard patio about 10:15 a.m. ET Sept. 28 when he heard sirens coming from Saginaw Street, about 300 yards from the church.

"I drove up before a lot of the police and ambulances got here, got out of my truck and ran towards it to see if there was anything I could do to help," he said. "There was a silver Chevy Silverado that had been driven into the side of the church — not even through the doors."

"There were at least four yellow canvasses over dead bodies that I could see at the time."

As of noon, Deck said first responders had blocked off the area, preventing him from leaving. The church, he said, "is completely destroyed."

Sheriff: 'Entire church is on fire'

Christopher Swanson, sheriff of Genesee County, Michigan, posted an update on Facebook just before noon ET on Sunday.

“This is a dynamic scene,” Swanson said. “The entire church is on fire.”

“The people that were here have been evacuated. We do have victims here, we’re working on that,” he added.

Swanson said he was asked by the Grand Blanc Township police to share the information.

“The shooter is down. We do have multiple victims,” he said. “Just know that there’s a lot of things that are happening that we are not able to communicate just because of the work that needs to be done.”

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer thanks first responders

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement on X that her office is monitoring the situation in Grand Blanc.

"My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable," Whitmer wrote. "I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. We will continue to monitor the situation and hold The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc close."

Members of Michigan's congressional delegation, includingSen. Elissa Slotkin and Rep. Debbie Dingell, thanked officials, offered condolences to families of the victims and offered support in statements on social media.

"We will know more in the coming days and weeks. And there will be more to say. Buy today we send our strength to those involved who must now try and pick up the pieces and grieve," Slotkin said.

FBI responding to Michigan church shooting

Federal law enforcement, including officials from the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, responded to the shooting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Sept. 28.

"I am receiving briefings about what appears to be a horrific shooting and fire at an LDS church in Grand Blanc, Michigan. @FBI and@ATFHQ agents are en route to the scene now," Bondi wrote on X.

"Such violence at a place of worship is heartbreaking and chilling. Please join me in praying for the victims of this terrible tragedy," Bondi added.

Shooting comes day after death of Mormon church leader

The shooting comes a day after the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints passed away.

Russell M. Nelson, the oldest person ever to lead the church, died late Sept. 27 at his Salt Lake City home. He was 101-years-old. Nelson's tenure as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was marked by several sweeping policy changes, including a 2019 roll back of a policy that labeled same-sex member couples “apostates” and barred their minor children from religious rites.

Grand Blanc, Michigan PD: 'PLEASE AVOID THE AREA!'

The Grand Blanc Township Police Department posted to Facebook shortly after 11 a.m. ET that there were "multiple" victims at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It also said the shooter is down and the building is on fire.

"There are multiple victims and the shooter is down" at the church, the police department said. "There is NO threat to the public at this time. The church is actively on fire. For people on site, the reuinification site is the pavilion to the north. Offsite reunification will be at Trillium Theater on Holly and McCandlish. PLEASE AVOID THE AREA!"

This is a developing story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 1 dead, 9 injured in Michigan church shooting, police say; shooter down, building on fire

Reporting by Kristen Jordan Shamus, Karissa Waddick, Dinah Voyles Pulver and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press

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