Month: September 2025

At least one person was killed and nine others were wounded in a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan; a suburb of Flint, Michigan located about an hour north of Detroit.

Authorities say the shooter drove his vehicle through the front of the church during a large service, began shooting, and then intentionally set a fire that grew into a large blaze. Police believe they may find additional victims when it is safe to enter the building.

Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye said at a news conference that the incident took place at 10:25 a.m. with more than 100 people were attending the church service. Renye said that “He ran the vehicle through the front door, exited and started firing shots,” with at least 10 parishioners shot, including two who were killed. One of the victims remains in critical condition, while the other are listed as stable. According to Renye, officers killed the suspect – 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford from Burton, Michigan – after exchanging gunfire with him. Two officers were involved in the shootout: one from the Department of Natural Resources and another from Grand Blanc Township.

According to law enforcement officials, the fire set in the aftermath of the shooting grew to a five-alarm blaze that caused a partial collapse of the structure. The fire was extinguished just before 1 p.m.  Renye said at the afternoon  briefing that a motive for the fire is still unclear, and “we are still trying to determine exactly when and where that fire ended up coming from and how it got started, so we believe it was deliberately set out by the suspect.”

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that he has 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!”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spokesperson Doug Andersen released a statement after the shooting: “The Church is in communication with local law enforcement as the investigation continues and as we receive updates on the condition of those affected. We offer thanks to the emergency responders who are assisting victims and families.” Andersen said the church is “deeply grateful for the outpouring of prayers and concern from so many people around the world. In moments of sorrow and uncertainty, we find strength and comfort through our faith in Jesus Christ. Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection. We pray for peace and healing for all involved.

Editorial credit: Charlotte Evelyn / Shutterstock.com

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced on Sunday that he is dropping his third-party bid for re-election, narrowing the field for November’s election and setting up a three-way race between Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee; Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate; and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an independent

Adams, who took office in January 2022, has had a a tumultuous year overall; he faced a federal corruption scandal and criticism over his relationship with the Trump administration. In a nearly nine-minute video posted to his social media, Adams said “I was wrongfully charged because I fought for this city, and if I had to do it again, I would fight for New York again,” and added that he hoped New Yorkers “will see that despite the headlines and the innuendo, I always put you before me.”  His name will still appear on the November ballot, with ABC News reporting that it is too late for Adams’s name to be removed.

In the video message, Adams said: “Despite all we’ve achieved, I cannot continue my reelection campaign. The constant media speculation about my future and the Campaign Finance Board’s decision to withhold millions of dollars have undermined my ability to raise the funds needed for a serious campaign.”

Adams also urged his successor to “continue the work we started, lowering the cost of living, investing in quality of life and staying laser-focused on reducing crime and disorder through investments in policing, mental health, substance abuse care, homelessness services and community-based initiatives; he added that “this campaign was for the underserved, the marginalized, the abandoned and betrayed by government. Since then, it has been my honor to be your mayor, and I’m proud to say that we took that victory four years ago and turned it into action, making this city better for those who have been failed by government.”

Adams did not make an endorsement in the video, but took a swipe at Mamdani, arguing that “extremism is growing in our politics … Too often, insidious forces use local government to advance divisive agendas with little regard for how it hurts everyday New Yorkers. Major change is welcome and necessary, but beware of those who claim the answer to destroy the very system we built together over generations. That is not change, that is chaos.”

The announcement from Adams comes just weeks after he dismissed speculation that he would drop his reelection bid. Adams insisted during a Sept. 5 news conference that he was remaining in the race, and was “the only one that can beat [Zohran] Mamdani” – referring to the Democratic frontrunner and former governor Cuomo as “two spoiled brats.”

Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com