Grand Blanc, Michigan — September 28, 2025: Authorities identified Thomas Jacob Sanford, age 40, as the man shot and killed by officers from the Grand Blanc Township Police Department and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources after a violent incident at a local church.
According to law enforcement reports, officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting that a man had driven a truck into a church, fired shots, and set the building on fire. When officers arrived at the scene near 4285 McCandlish Road, they claimed Sanford was holding a gun and refused repeated orders to drop the weapon. Officers then opened fire, killing him at the scene.
The Michigan State Police are leading the investigation, and officials have stated the case remains under a pending investigation. No officers were injured during the incident. Police bodycam footage and additional evidence are currently under review.
Major news outlets, including NBC News, ABC11, WTOL, and CNN, have covered the shooting and fire, reporting that Sanford was an Iraq War veteran and that several people inside the church at the time managed to escape unharmed.
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available reports as of the date of publication. Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys does not independently verify third-party claims and makes no representation regarding the completeness or accuracy of external reporting. All individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.