09/28/2025
Multiple Victims in Shooting and Fire at Grand Blanc Church GRAND BLANC, Mich. (Sept. 28, 2025) — A Sunday morning service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township erupted into violence and chaos when an active shooter opened fire and the building quickly became engulfed in flames. Police confirm the shooter is dead and say there is no ongoing threat to the public, but multiple victims have been reported.
Timeline of Events
Emergency calls began just before 11 a.m., reporting shots fired at the church on McCandlish Road. Witnesses said they heard a “loud bang” followed by screams, while others described people running for safety as smoke poured out of the building.
By 11:25 a.m., Grand Blanc Township Police announced the suspect was “down.” At that same time, fire crews were battling a fifth-alarm blaze, raising fears of a structural collapse and possible entrapments inside.
Fire Response
The scale of the fire prompted a massive emergency response. Crews from Genesee Township and neighboring communities, including mutual aid medical units from as far as Oxford, Michigan, rushed to the scene. Thick black smoke could be seen for miles as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze.
Officials said the search of the building was difficult because of heavy flames, smoke, and unstable conditions. “We are working under extremely hazardous circumstances,” one fire officer explained, noting that manpower was stretched thin.
Victims
Authorities confirm there are multiple shooting victims, but have not released names or medical conditions. Local outlets, citing law enforcement sources, reported six to eight people may have been struck. Officials have not said if there are fatalities beyond the shooter.
Eyewitnesses described the confusion. One bystander told reporters, “I saw people running out the doors, covered in dust and smoke. Some were helped by others. It all happened so fast.”
Community Response
Law enforcement quickly set up two reunification centers:
A pavilion just north of the church.
The Trillium Theater at Holly and McCandlish roads, serving as an off-site gathering point for family members.
Police urged residents to avoid the area while investigators and fire crews continued their work.
Investigation
The Grand Blanc Township Police Department is leading the investigation, with assistance from local fire officials and likely state and federal partners. Officials have not yet released the identity of the shooter or said whether the blaze was deliberately set.
A news conference is expected later today, where police and fire officials will provide updates on the number of victims, the cause of the fire, and the status of the investigation.
Shock and Unanswered Questions
The incident has shaken the Grand Blanc community, a township of roughly 8,000 residents near Flint. Political leaders, including Michigan Rep. John James, have expressed horror and offered prayers for the victims and families.
For now, many questions remain: Who was the shooter? Why was this church targeted? Did the gunman set the fire? How many people were injured or killed?
As one shaken resident summed it up: “You never expect to see something like this here. A place of worship turned into a war zone in minutes.”
