GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Members of the bomb squad and SWAT teams have cleared the home of the man suspected in the attack at a church in Grand Blanc Township.
The FBI has taken over the investigation and will now search the suspect’s home.
UPDATE: Everything we know so far about Grand Blanc Township church attack
Police believe the suspect, a 40-year-old man from Burton, drove a vehicle into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township before opening fire with an assault rifle. He is also accused of setting the church on fire.
Four people were killed and at least eight others were injured. The suspect was killed by authorities.
Following the attack, the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad and SWAT teams conducted a thorough search of the suspect’s home. Bomb squad robots were used to safely inspect the property.
Multiple improvised explosive devices were found in the suspect’s vehicle, prompting authorities to treat the scene as potentially containing more explosives.
Just before 9 p.m., Michigan State Police cleared the home, and more than a dozen FBI vehicles arrived. FBI agents are expected to conduct a detailed search as part of their ongoing investigation.
Here are photos of the scene:
What happened
Police said the shooting happened at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 4200 block of McCandlish Road in Grand Blanc Township.
Grand Blanc Township police Chief William Renye said a man drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church.
The man then got out of the vehicle and started firing shots with an assault rifle, according to Renye.
Deaths, injuries
Police said at 1 p.m. Sunday that 10 people from the church had been taken to nearby hospitals.
One of those people had been pronounced dead. A second person has since died.
Two of the nine injured people were in critical condition, and the other seven were stable, Renye said at 1 p.m. At the time of that update, only one person was dead, but a second person has since died from their injuries.
He believes police will find more victims once they’ve had a chance to clear the scene.
What we know about shooting suspect
Police said the suspected shooter is a 40-year-old man from Burton.
After the shooting, he was confronted by an officer from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and a Grand Blanc Township police officer who had responded to the scene.
Those two officers exchanged gunfire with the suspected shooter, and he was killed, Renye said.
Church fire
When police arrived at the church, they found it fully engulfed in flames. They said they believe the shooting suspect deliberately set the fire.
As of 1 p.m., they weren’t sure exactly how the fire had been set, but they believed it was on purpose.
The fire was extinguished by Grand Blanc Township firefighters between noon and 1 p.m.
What’s next?
Police said they are still early in the investigation, and they are working to try to figure out the suspected shooter’s motive.
They’re searching his home in Burton. They also said they will go through his cellphone records.
An update from police is expected at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The FBI sent 100 agents to the scene to help authorities interview the many witnesses who were at the church.
Police: No further danger to public
Renye said police believe that the suspected shooter acted alone, and they have no other suspects.
They said there is no further danger to the public.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this incident, which was completely unnecessary and avoidable,” Renye said.
IEDs found inside suspected shooter’s vehicle
Local 4’s Nick Monacelli confirmed that three IEDs were found inside the suspected shooter’s vehicle during the police investigation.
Search at shooter’s home
Members of the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad are at the man’s home in Burton. They brought robots to help search the home because of the possibility that there are more explosives.
What Gov. Whitmer said
Here’s what Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in response to the shooting:
My heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. 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.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Genesee County sheriff’s statement
Here’s what Gensee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said in response to the shooting:
This is a heartbreaking and tragic day for our community. We are working closely with Grand Blanc Township Police and other local, state, and federal partners to bring answers and provide support for the victims, their families, and everyone impacted by this senseless act of violence.
Gensee County Sheriff Chris Swanson
Grand Blanc Township trustee speaks
Joel Feick, a resident of Grand Blanc Township and a member of its Board of Trustees, spoke to Local 4 just after the shooting.
“I was not home when it happened, but this happened right next to my condo,” Feick said. “My neighbors heard the gunfire. They heard the screaming, the windows. They saw the truck. It’s horrific.
Feick said he doesn’t yet have any additional details about what happened.
“I know that you can see the smoke from I-75 a couple of miles away, from this church just burning,” Feick said. “So, clearly, somebody set this church on fire. We’ve never seen anything like this.”
Feick said he’s never heard of anything like this happening in Grand Blanc since he’s been a resident.
“It’s very peaceful,” Feick said. “It’s very sad, and it’s horrific. On a Sunday, and people are at church? It’s awful.”
Sen. John Cherry statement
Here’s Michigan Sen. John Cherry (D-Flint) said in response to the shooting:
I am deeply saddened by the news today of the tragic act of violence that happened here in Genesee County. My family and I extend our hearts to those injured and killed, their families, and their church family, and all who endured this traumatic experience today. To terrorize people in a place of worship, where their hopes are highest and their faith strongest, is particularly sickening and has rocked our entire community.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of the first responders from multiple agencies and communities who rushed to the scene and continue to help those affected.
The congregation, the people of Grand Blanc, and our Genesee County community as a whole will need to heal and rebuild emotionally and physically, and I hope we can all come together to support them and one another during these trying and terrifying times.
Michigan Sen. John Cherry