Grand Blanc shooter called 911 with bomb threats before attack

Police say the person killed 4 individuals and injured 9 others. He known as 911 and threatened three different homes of worship simply minutes earlier than attacking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc County, regulation enforcement data present.

New audio and police stories launched by Grand Blanc Township police point out Thomas Jacob Sanford threatened a number of church buildings in Metro Detroit — however not the positioning of his closing assault. Police imagine he made the calls whereas sitting in a automotive lower than a mile from the Grand Blanc Township church. Moments later, he rammed his automobile into the church and exited the grey GMC Sierra to open fireplace and set the constructing on fireplace, police stated. Legislation enforcement officers shot him lifeless.

Police launched the audio of the dialog, which lasted lower than two minutes, and 71 pages of stories in response to a Freedom of Data Act request. ABC Information first reported the content material of the dialog.

At roughly 10:21 a.m. on September 28, 2025, Genesee County Emergency Administration acquired a name from somebody saying, “I need to report a bomb at a Mormon temple” in a Detroit metro neighborhood, saying it was “essential.” Police later appeared to switch the decision to Sanford utilizing the telephone quantity used to make the decision.

Sanford refers to a bomb at ‘the River Church’. In 2025, the church’s Goodrich location confirmed that Sanford attended a service at their parish — and have become irritated and left abruptly — per week earlier than the mass taking pictures in Grand Blanc Township.

At this level the dispatcher tries to get the caller to decelerate.

“No, no, no… Take heed to me, pay attention, I will speak and now you are going to pay attention… I will grasp up the telephone,” Sanford replies.

Extra: Households and church members cling to one another within the aftermath of Grand Blanc Twp. to shoot

He additionally refers to a separate Catholic church in Grand Blanc. He repeats some particulars when the coordinator asks questions. When she asks him his title, he appears to hold up.

“Within the background audio of the 911 name, the attainable sound of a automobile’s exhaust could be heard whereas the person is speaking, as if the person was driving a automobile whereas making the bomb menace,” the police report stated.

In late October, the FBI confirmed that Sanford carried out the assault due to his anti-religious beliefs, particularly focusing on the Mormon neighborhood.

Federal regulation enforcement officers reached in late 2025 indicated their investigation into the assault was nonetheless open.

Attain Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com.