1 dead, 9 injured in shooting and fire at Michigan church, police say

A gunman opened fire inside a Michigan church during Sunday services before apparently setting the building ablaze, killing at least one person and injuring nine before police shot him, authorities said

Hundreds of people were inside the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 80 kilometres north of Detroit, when a 40-year-old man rammed his vehicle into the front door. He then exited the vehicle and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters. 

Police believe he “deliberately” set the building on fire. After the suspect left the church, two officers pursued him and “engaged in gunfire,” Renye said. The man was killed. 

Flames and smoke could be seen for hours before the blaze was put out. First responders were then sifting through the wreckage.

“We do believe we will find some additional victims once we find the area where the fire was,” Renye said. 

Scott Bennett, supervisor of Grand Blanc Township, called the incident “a tragedy that nobody wants to encounter.”

Smoke surrounds the building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a shooting and fire was reported at the building on Sept. 28. (Lukas Katilius/The Flint Journal via AP)

Police said they did not yet have a motive for the fire or shooting. Investigators are searching the suspect’s residence in nearby Burton, Mich. Authorities did not provide any additional details about the suspect, including whether he was a member of church, widely known as the Mormon church. Authorities have not released details on the victims’ conditions.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said authorities would release more details later.

“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,” Swanson said.

‘Epidemic of violence’ must end: Trump

The church, circled by a parking lot and a large lawn, is located near residential areas and a Jehovah’s Witness church in Grand Blanc, Mich. The community of roughly 8,000 people is just outside Flint.

The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died at 101. The next president of the faith is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, per church protocol.

A firefighter walks down the street where emergency services were responding to a shooting and fire at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc, Mich. (Emily Elconin/Getty Images)

“The church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected,” Doug Anderson, a spokesperson for Utah-based faith, said in a statement.

“Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

This was the latest of many shooting attacks on houses of worship in the U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children during Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis. 

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post he has been briefed on the “horrendous shooting” that took place at the church and asked for prayers for the victims and their families.

He also claimed this appears to be “yet another targeted attack on Christians” in the U.S. and added that the “epidemic of violence” must immediately end.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that her heart is breaking for the Grand Blanc community. “Violence anywhere especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable,” she said.

Emergency services respond as smoke rises from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The impact of the shooting spread quickly to neighbouring communities, including the small city that shares a name with the township.

“Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very cohesive community,” said city of Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey. “This sort of thing is painful for our entire community. I’m struggling to digest all that has happened, and my heart goes out to all of the affected families.”

Some striking nurses at nearby Henry Ford Hospital left the picket line and ran the short distance to the church to help first responders, said Teamsters Local 332 President Dan Glass.

“Human lives matter more than our labour dispute,” Glass said.