FBI, ATF join investigation into attack on Mormon congregation

Federal officials joined local law enforcement in southeastern Michigan on Monday for a press conference providing updates on the weekend’s fatal attack on a Mormon assembly in Grand Blanc Township. Police said four people lost their lives and eight more suffered injuries after a man drove his truck into a Latter-day Saints meeting place on Sunday, proceeded to open fire on congregants, then set the building on fire.

The attacker died at the scene after engaging in a firefight with responding police officers. Footage of the attack’s aftermath showed the structure nearly burned to the ground, and investigators are continuing to process the scene. Officials said Monday’s briefing would be their last press conference on the attack, and all future updates would be posted to law enforcement social media pages.

In a separate news conference, Dr. Michael Danic, medical chief of staff at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, said eight victims were treated at the hospital, with one dying from gunshot wounds in the emergency department.

Among the updates on Monday:

• Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed that everyone was now accounted for, after previous reports that several congregants were missing.

• Investigators recovered improvised explosive devices from the scene of the attack, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ acting special agent in charge, James Deir. The ATF’s National Response Team, which specializes in arson and explosion investigations, will work the case, Deir added.

• The FBI was investigating the attack as an incident of targeted violence, not a terror attack, until investigators could confirm the attacker's motive, said Ruben Coleman, FBI acting special agent in charge. Agents worked through the night to process the scene, and over 100 victims and witnesses have been interviewed, Coleman said. The bureau’s Behavioral Analysis Unit is also aiding in the investigation, along with various lab divisions at Quantico, he added.

What do we know about victims? Attack victims ranged from age 6 to 78, according to Dr. Danic. Of the eight victims brought to the hospital, five suffered gunshot wounds, and three suffered smoke inhalation, he said. One of gunshot victims remains in critical condition, and three other other gunshot victims, including a child, had stabilized or almost stabilized, he said. Of the smoke inhalation victims, he said, two have been discharged, and one is still intubated.

What do we know about the attacker? Officials identified the alleged attacker on Sunday as 40-year-old former Marine Thomas Jacob Stanford. It remained unclear whether the suspect was purposely targeting a specific religious group. 

Dig deeper: Read Travis Kircher’s previous report for more background on the attack.