Gunman Kills Four in Michigan Church Shooting
(MENAFN) At least four individuals lost their lives and eight others sustained injuries after an armed attacker opened fire inside a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday morning, according to law enforcement officials.
Additional deceased victims were later discovered inside the church, raising the number of fatalities to four, as confirmed by Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye during a press briefing.
Chief Renye stated that the total number of "five deceased persons from this tragic incident" includes the alleged shooter, who was fatally shot during an exchange of gunfire with police officers.
"We do not have names of victims at this time," the Grand Blanc Township Police Department said in an earlier official release.
Authorities reported that the 40-year-old suspect drove his car through the front entrance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before stepping out and "firing several rounds at individuals within the church," according to Renye.
Law enforcement later identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former United States Marine and a veteran of the Iraq conflict, who hailed from Burton, a nearby city.
"The service was active. There were hundreds of people within the church," the police chief noted earlier, emphasizing the crowded nature of the congregation at the time of the incident.
During the chaos, a fire also ignited within the church premises. However, officials later confirmed that the blaze had been successfully brought under control.
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