NEWTOWN, Conn. – At least four people were killed and eight others were wounded after a former U.S. Marine drove a vehicle through the main entrance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan and began shooting with a rifle. The attacker shot indiscriminately into the crowded Sunday service before setting the building on fire.
The suspect has been identified as a 40-year-old man that was killed in a shootout with police. A motive is yet to be discovered, but this event was described as a targeted attack.
Violence committed against religious institutions and individuals has increased in the United States over the last decade. People of nearly all religions have been murdered while practicing their faith, including Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, and others.
Enacted in early 2024, Michigan’s extreme risk protection order laws (ERPO) can be used to temporarily separate an individual in crisis from firearms. An ERPO is a temporary civil order that can save lives when a person poses danger to themselves or others. A wide range of people are able to petition a court for an ERPO, including members of law enforcement, families, household members, and healthcare providers – but that can only be possible when the warning signs of violence are recognized and taken seriously.
Warning signs are thoughts, actions, or behaviors that signal a person may be in crisis. Some examples include making threats, bragging about access to weapons, being chronically socially isolated or bullied, describing a plan for an attack, and more. When we recognize these signals and know how to get help, violence and mass attacks can be prevented.
Mark Barden, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise and father of Daniel, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“This disturbing act of hate has no place in our society – and we stand with the victims, their loved ones, the community of Grand Blanc Township, and indeed the entire nation in condemning this heinous act. Gun violence in our nation has reached into our most sacred places – our places of worship, our schools – and has caused irreparable trauma and harm. But we are not hopeless, and we are not helpless. Now’s the time to take action and use all of the proven tools at our disposal to end these tragedies.”
Lauren Levin, chief advocacy officer with the Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund, issued the following statement:
“This tragedy is an affront to everything we stand for as a nation. Although many details about what led to yesterday’s hateful attack are still being investigated, it’s evident that there was some degree of advance planning. That means there was likely an opportunity to intervene. The temporary transfer of firearms from individuals in crisis has proven to save lives – particularly when it comes to suicides and other targeted attacks like mass shootings and school shootings.
“Michigan has these laws, known as extreme risk protection orders, but they are relatively new to the state. We must continue educating residents about how these laws work, what the warning signs are, and how to get help. These vital steps provide some of our best opportunities to prevent the misuse of firearms and protect our places of worship, as well as our schools, homes, and communities.”
For more information about the warning signs of violence, as well as information about life-saving firearm access policies, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
###
The Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund (SHPAF) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization committed to protecting all children from gun violence in schools, homes, and communities. The SHP Action Fund advances a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization. It is part of Sandy Hook Promise, founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Media Contact:
Claudia Montecinos | [email protected] | C: (202) 815-1041