At least four dead, multiple injured in mass shooting at a Michigan church
UPDATE (6:24 PM): The death toll now stands at four following the attack on a church service in Grand Blanc, Michigan Sunday.
Authorities releasing new information about the attack in a press conference this evening.
They say that the FBI is leading the investigation "as an act of targeted violence."
"We ask that members of the public share any information that would assist us in this investigation and we encourage them to please report to the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI or tips.fbi.gov," said Reuben Coleman with the FBI.
First responders, still in recovery mode, are continuing to comb through the charred remains of the church, to locate additional victims who are still unaccounted for.
Authorities also say that the fire was intentionally set by the suspect using an accelerant, believed to be gasoline.
UPDATE (4:34 PM): NBC News obtained a photo of the person police have identified as the alleged shooter at the Michigan Latter-day Saints Church Sunday morning.
40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church before getting out and firing gunshots.
Officials also believe he set the church on fire, but the blaze was later extinguished.
A total of ten victims were injured by gunfire. Two of them are dead, seven are in stable condition and one is in critical condition.
Sanford was shot and killed by police.
Police are holding a press conference Sunday evening to provide further updates regarding the mass shooting at the church.
To watch the livestream of the press conference, see attached video.
UPDATE (3:00 PM): Police now say two people have died following a mass shooting at a church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan Sunday morning.
"Seven other victims at this time are in stable condition, one is in critical condition," said Chief Bill Renye with the Grand Blanc Township Police Department.
Michigan State Police Bomb Squad units were outside the alleged suspect's home in Burton, Michigan, with SWAT teams using robots to search the man's home.
Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found at the scene, according to senior law enforcement officials, but it is not clear if those were incendiary devices or explosive devices.
During an afternoon press conference, authorities identified the suspect as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford.
A motive is still unknown at this time.
UPDATE (1:51 PM): Authorities in Michigan are holding a press conference to provide updates regarding the mass shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
To watch the livestream of the press conference, see attached video.
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. (NBC, KYMA) - One person is dead and multiple others were injured following a shooting at a Michigan church Sunday.
This happened just before 10:30 a.m. Eastern at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township.
Police say a 40-year-old Burton man drove his vehicle through the front doors of the church and then got out and started firing gunshots.
At least 10 people were injured in addition to the person who died. The suspect was shot and killed by officers.
"It's insane to me. I can't actually believe that this would happen in my city. Like nothing like this has ever even come close to happening here. And it, honestly, I can't believe it that it's happened here," said Joe Ostrander, a Grand Blanc Township resident.
"I was not home when this all happened, but this happened right next to my condo. My neighbors heard the gunfire, they heard screaming, the windows, they saw the truck. It's horrific," said Joel Feick, another Grand Blanc Township resident.
Officials believe he also set the church on fire. The blaze was later extinguished, and officials expect to find more victims.
The investigation is ongoing.
