Tragedy Strikes Michigan Church as Community Mourns Victims of Attack

Sat Oct 11 2025 04:02:02 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A community in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, is coming to grips with the aftermath of a tragic shooting and arson attack on a church, which left four people dead and numerous others injured. John Bond, a beloved local figure, is among the victims remembered for his dedication to family and community.

In a devastating incident on Sunday morning, an attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan resulted in four fatalities, including Navy veteran John Bond. The shooter, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove his pickup truck into the church mid-service, igniting chaos and horror. Despite community support and fundraising efforts, many are left to grapple with the lingering shock and grief.

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — One of the victims of the horrific attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse has been identified as John Bond, a Navy veteran and deeply loved grandfather known for his passion for golf and trains. Tragically, Bond was among four people who lost their lives in the violent incident on Sunday morning, when a shooter drove a pickup truck into the church and opened fire.

The identities of the deceased and the eight wounded, aged between 6 to 78 and all expected to survive, have yet to be officially released. Reports indicate that among the injured is a father and his young son, as community members rally for support through fundraising efforts.

Authorities continue to investigate, with the shooter identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from a nearby town. Details about Sanford's motives remain sparse, leaving many questions surrounding this tragic event that has left the community in a state of shock.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as Sanford barreled his truck into the brick structure during a worship service, initiating a blaze that left the church in ruins. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the situation spiraled into violence, resulting in a shootout between Sanford and responding officers, which ultimately claimed his life.

The local bishop, Jeffrey Schaub, expressed the emotional toll on the congregation, stating, Our members are quite shaken in spirit and in body. It hurts. In the face of such adversity, the community has come together, drawing support from various denominations, highlighting the resilience and compassion that emerges amidst tragedy.

Federal investigators continue to sift through the charred remains of the church, with many in the area left to grapple with their collective grief while honoring the memories of those lost.