Shooting at Michigan Mormon church leaves 4 dead and 8 injured
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc was the church attacked in Michigan. Authorities are investigating the alleged attacker's motives.
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The tranquility of a community near Flint was disrupted this Sunday morning at around 10:25 a.m. when a man rammed his pickup truck into the main door of a Mormon church and opened fire on worshippers gathered during a religious ceremony. Minutes later, the attacker set fire to the building, causing a partial collapse.
According to local authorities, four people have died and at least eight have been injured, some of them seriously. Among the fatalities, two were found under the rubble after firefighters extinguished the flames. The attacker was killed in a confrontation with police.
The FBI and Michigan State Police are continuing an investigation to determine the motive behind the attack. "We still do not have conclusive information regarding the motives that led this individual to commit such a devastating act," the local police chief stated at a press conference. Authorities also searched the suspect's residence in the neighboring town of Burton, seeking additional leads.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned the incident, calling it "an atrocious act against a community of faith seeking peace and refuge." Civil organizations and religious leaders pointed to the vulnerability of places of worship in the United States, a country where armed attacks on schools, synagogues, and churches have multiplied in the last decade.
President Donald Trump also expressed his condemnation of the violence at the Michigan church:
While investigators are trying to establish a profile of the attacker and his motivations, the tragedy reopens a recurring debate: access to firearms and security in public spaces traditionally considered safe. “No one should fear for their life when attending church on a Sunday morning,” emphasized a spokesperson for the local diocese.
The Grand Blanc community is now preparing for vigils and ceremonies in memory of the victims, amid an atmosphere of mourning and consternation. Authorities have urged calm and patience while the investigation, which could take several days, continues.
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