Man, 21, arrested after driving through barriers at scene of Grand Blanc church shooting

By Beth LeBlanc, MediaNews Group

Municipality of Grand Blanc — A 21-year-old Flint man was arrested after driving by way of obstacles across the scene of a mass taking pictures and hearth at a Mormon church.

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed the incident occurred however didn’t point out whether or not it occurred on Sunday or Monday.

“We’re nonetheless investigating that incident, whether or not or not it’s associated,” Renye mentioned.

He didn’t present additional particulars in regards to the incident.

The arrest comes as police examine a mass taking pictures and hearth throughout a Sunday church service at Grand Blanc Township Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4285 McCandlish Street.

Police have mentioned the shooter, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, drove into the entrance wall of the church, exited his automobile and fired a number of rounds. Police consider Sanford additionally intentionally set the church on hearth. A minimum of 10 folks have been injured, together with two who later died of gunshot wounds, and two others have been discovered within the rubble of the church late Sunday.

Since that point, McCandlish Street, close to Holly Street, has been largely barricaded to site visitors.

On Monday, James Deir, particular agent in control of the ATF’s Detroit Subject Workplace, warned residents to avoid the scene whereas an elite staff of ATF investigators examine the taking pictures and hearth. Officers discovered four improvised explosive devices in Sanford’s truck Sunday.

Deir famous after Monday’s press convention that people ought to keep away, each to maintain the positioning clear for investigators and as a precaution that different units might be discovered.

“We had an incident as we speak the place somebody drove by way of the barricade and ignored the police order to cease,” Deir mentioned. “That disrupts the investigative course of. That makes us all must cease on a dime and get our folks out of there. I imply, is that this an energetic risk or what is that this?”

“It actually stops us in our tracks and complicates the work we’re attempting to do for the group,” he added.

eleblanc@detroitnews.com

Initially printed: September 30, 2025 at 7:36 AM EDT