Politics
JUST IN: At Least One Confirmed Dead After Gunman Attacks MI Church, Intentionally Sets Fire
Officials with the Grand Blanc Township Police Department provided preliminary details on a mass shooting and fire attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Police confirmed that the gunman drove his truck into an exterior wall of the building before exiting and proceeding to fire at churchgoers. The gunman, identified only as a 40-year-old male from the town of Burton, was killed.
One victim is confirmed dead, while at least nine others have been hospitalized with gunshot wounds. At least two victims are in critical condition, while the rest have been listed in stable condition.
The attack occurred during a church service with “hundreds” of churchgoers in attendance.
Grambling County Police Chief Rodney Demery stated that police expect they will locate additional victims once they are able to conduct a complete search of the area where the fire was raging. Demery noted that he cannot provide exact details on the expected victims at this time, though he did suggest that some people were unable to escape the fire.
Investigators believe that the fire — which engulfed the entire building and took more than an hour to contain — was set intentionally. It is currently unknown how exactly the fire was set, with police saying only that they expect to uncover additional evidence.
The gunman used a semi-automatic rifle to carry out the attack. Photos circulating of the suspect’s vehicle show a tan pickup truck with two American flags mounted in the back. He was neutralized by two local law enforcement officers who initially responded to the scene.
An image of what is believed to be the shooter’s vehicle
Police are currently combing through the shooter’s electronic devices and are expected to be executing search warrants of any properties connected to him in the coming hours. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that dozens of agents have responded to the scene and are assisting with the investigation, while agents with the ATF are also on the ground.
“Yeah so the church had started at 10 o ‘clock we had our opening congregational hymn we were getting ready to take the the sacrament And we heard a large, just a loud bang,” a witness told local outlet Fox 2. “And then we saw that the front wall, so the front part of the chapel, the wall was cracked. And so we at first figured somebody accidentally had done something. So we started rushing out to go help. And then as soon as I saw the American flags on the truck, and somebody yelled that it was on purpose. We were actually on the phone with him while, when the shooter came out the door.”
The gunman fired at the churchgoer’s vehicle as he exited the scene.
Police announced that an additional press conference has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
