Grand Blanc church suspect ‘a stand up guy’; was an army veteran; first details out

A gunman opened fire inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, killing at least one person and injuring nine.

Published on: Sep 29, 2025, 01:11:04 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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A gunman opened fire inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, killing at least one person and injuring nine. The suspect then set the building on fire, authorities confirmed. Now, neighbors said they knew the shooter as a ‘standup guy’, further adding that he was a veteran. Officials have not confirmed these accounts.

Emergency services respond to a shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Getty Images via AFP)

A neighbor told local news broadcasters that he spoke to a neighbor in the parking lot after the shooting. “He told me that he (suspect) was an army vet,” he added.

This comes after officials said that they received reports of a 40-year-old man who rammed a pickup truck through the front door, then got out of the vehicle and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters.

Police believe he “deliberately” set the building on fire. Officers pursued the suspect and engaged in gunfire, ultimately killing the shooter.

Meanwhile, a large plume of smoke could be seen coming out of the church. The blaze was put out. “We do believe we will find some additional victims once we find the area where the fire was,” Renye said.

Trump briefed

Meanwhile, President Trump said that he has been briefed on the situation.

“I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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