Investigators are searching for a motive after a gunman opened fire at a Mormon church in Michigan and set the building on fire, killing four people. Officials said the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, a town 60 miles (100km) northwest of Detroit, happened during a Sunday service attended by hundreds of people.

They have named the suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from Burton, Michigan, who was killed by police soon after the shooting. Speaking at a news conference on Monday, officials confirmed that the incident was a targeted act of violence, but said they had not yet ascertained Sanford's motive.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer urged residents not to speculate about the motive as officials conducted their investigation, stressing that speculation can be unhelpful and dangerous. The shooting began at around 10:30 EST when the gunman crashed his vehicle into the building and started firing at congregants. One man described the chaos that ensued after the loud boom of the crash and the unexpected fear that followed.

Sanford allegedly used gasoline to set the church ablaze and was armed with explosive devices. The incident concluded with the suspect being killed in a shootout with police, sparking further investigation with over 100 witnesses interviewed throughout the night.

Details about the suspect reveal he was a former Marine with a history of arrests and suspected animosity toward the Mormon faith. His family shared that he was a father of a son with serious health issues, adding a layer of personal tragedy to his story. As the community grapples with this horrific event, many question the underlying causes behind such acts of violence.