Multiple People Dead: Man Opens Fire at a Michigan Church Then Sets It Ablaze | Crime Alert 6AM 09.29.25

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Multiple People Dead: Man Opens Fire at a Michigan Church Then Sets It Ablaze | Crime Alert 6AM 09.29.25
Date: September 29, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this Crime Alert episode, Nancy Grace covers recent shocking incidents of mass violence in the United States. The episode focuses on a tragic mass shooting and arson at a Michigan church, also following up with a deadly boat shooting in North Carolina and an unresolved Texas missing persons case. Nancy and her correspondents discuss facts, potential motives, and appeal to the public for information on these cases.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michigan Church Mass Shooting and Arson [00:00–03:16]

Breaking News & Incident Details

• Nicole Parton reports that Thomas Jacob Sanford, age 40, from Burton, Michigan, drove a pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blank, a suburb of Flint, during a news conference at approximately 10:25 a.m. Sunday.

  • He exited the vehicle and opened fire with an assault rifle, resulting in four fatalities and eight injuries (one critical, seven stable).
  • Sanford then set the church ablaze using gasoline.

• Police Chief William Renee confirms:

  "There is a couple additional bodies that we've discovered in the church, so that makes our total victim count up to four victims. As I said before, there has already been the suspect who is deceased as well. So we have five deceased persons from this tragic incident." [01:12]

• Sanford was killed in a gunfight with police outside the church.

Investigation & Suspect Background

• FBI has taken over the investigation. Agent Reuben Coleman characterizes the attack as “an act of targeted violence” but offers no details on Sanford's motive.

• The church, attended by several hundred people at the time, is a total loss due to the fire.

• Sanford was known locally as "Jake."

• Reports suggest a military background: possible U.S. Marine veteran, served in Japan and Iraq, enjoyed hunting and fishing; social media shows many images of him outdoors with firearms (evidence from family Facebook posts and news articles).

• Nicole Parton summarizes:

  “Police say the motive behind this tragic incident has yet to be uncovered. The investigation is ongoing.” [03:16]

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2. North Carolina Waterfront Bar Shooting [05:54–07:21]

• Nicole Parton introduces a second mass shooting in North Carolina:
  • At least 3 dead, 8 wounded at the American Fish Company waterfront bar in Southport.
  • A gunman arrived by boat, opened fire, and fled towards Oak Island.
  • Suspect, Nigel Max Edge, was apprehended by the Coast Guard loading his boat.
  • Charges: three counts of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder, five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
  • Motive remains unclear.
• Police urged citizens to stay indoors and remain vigilant during and after the incident.

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3. Texas Missing Persons Update — Donna Cloud [07:21–08:50]

• Nancy Grace spotlights the case of Donna Cloud, a 19-year-old missing for eight years.
  • Lived with father in Splendora, TX; relationship was strained.
  • Vanished after father ordered her to leave following an argument.
  • Initial false report: left on a blind date; later revealed she was picked up by two men.
  • Last seen active online two days later; phone pinged in Houston's Westchase neighborhood.
  • Description: 5'1", 110 lbs, brown hair/eyes, diamond tattoo on right ring finger, “Faith” on right forearm.
  • Public urged to call the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office with tips: 936-760-5800.

  “For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and help solve unsolved homicides.” [08:50]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Grand Blank Township Police Chief William Renee:

  “There is a couple additional bodies that we've discovered in the church, so that makes our total victim count up to four victims. As I said before, there has already been the suspect who is deceased as well. So we have five deceased persons from this tragic incident.” [01:12]

• Nicole Parton on the significance for the community:

  “There were several hundred people in attendance that day and now authorities say the church is a complete loss. After the blaze, Coleman urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, directing all of them to call 1-800-FBI-TIPS.” [01:54]

• Nancy Grace (Closing appeal on missing persons):

  “For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and help solve unsolved homicides.” [08:50]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:00–03:16] Michigan church shooting and arson coverage, suspect details, police and FBI statements
• [05:54–07:21] North Carolina boat shooting incident: facts, suspect apprehension
• [07:21–08:50] Donna Cloud missing person case update and public call for information

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Tone and Style

The episode maintains Nancy Grace's urgent, direct style, combining factual reporting from correspondents with empathetic appeals for vigilance and public assistance. The language is clear, concise, and charged with concern for victims and communities.

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Summary

This episode spotlights the horrors of recent mass violence — a targeted attack and arson at a Michigan church, a mass shooting at a North Carolina bar, and an ongoing missing person case in Texas. The coverage is timely and comprehensive, featuring firsthand police statements, investigative updates, and calls to action for listeners to help support ongoing investigations and recover missing individuals.

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Transcript

[Nancy Grace]

CRIME Alert. I'm Nancy Grace. Breaking crime news now straight out to Nicole Parton for the latest.

[Nicole Parton]

NANCY we start off with breaking news After a deadly mass shooting at a church, authorities in Michigan have identified 40 year old Thomas Jacob Sanford from Burton, Michigan as the man responsible for a tragic incident that left four people dead and eight others injured. The event occurred when Sanford drove a pickup truck into a church in central Michigan and opened fire during a news conference on September 28. Officials reported that one of the injured individuals is in critical condition while seven others are stable. The violent scene unfolded at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blank, a Flint suburb, around 10.25am on Sunday when Sanford crashed his vehicle into the building. After exiting the truck, he unleashed several rounds from an assault rifle at those inside. This as stated by the Grand Blank Township Police Chief William Renee. Authorities also revealed that Sanford then used gasoline to ignite the church on fire.

[William Renee]

I have a couple updates for you. There is a couple additional bodies that we've discovered in the church, so that makes our total victim count up to four victims. As I said before, there has already been the suspect who is deceased as well. So we have five deceased persons from this tragic incident.

[Nicole Parton]

Sanford ultimately died after a gunfight with responding officers in the church's parking lot. The investigation is being spearheaded by the FBI, with acting Special Agent in charge of the Detroit Field Reuben Coleman characterizing the incident as an act of targeted violence. However, he did not disclose any potential motives behind Sanford's attack. There were several hundred people in attendance that day and now authorities say the church is a complete loss. After the blaze, Coleman urged anyone with relevant information to come forward, directing all of them to call 1-800-FBI-TIPS. Burton. The suspect's hometown is located approximately eight miles north of Grand Blank. Locally, Sanford was often referred to as Jake by friends and family members, as indicated by various records and news articles. On Sunday night, law enforcement was heavily present outside the man's residence. This as reported by the Detroit Free Press. His mother's Facebook post suggests that he may have been a US Marine veteran, having served in Japan and Iraq after graduating from high school in 2003. This according to a 2007 article from the Clarkston News. Sanford appeared to enjoy outdoor activities, particularly hunting and fishing, as evidenced by photos on social media, including photos of his girlfriend and mother. These images depict him in camouflage, often carrying guns and hunting deer and catching fish. Police say the motive behind this tragic incident has yet to be uncovered. The investigation is ongoing.

[Nancy Grace]

Nicole, thank you. More Crime and justice news after this.

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[Nicole Parton]

And now to North Carolina. At least three people have lost their lives and eight more have been wounded following a shooting incident involving a gunman on a boat at a waterfront bar. The Southport Police Department reported they received emergency calls about shots fired with multiple injuries at the American Fish Company around 9:30pm local time. According to police reports, a boat with a lone man traveling on the Cape Fear river stopped momentarily near the bar and opened fire from the water, resulting in the death of three people and injuring at least eight others. The assailant then fled the scene, heading towards the Intercoastal Waterway in the direction of Oak Island. The police issued a warning on Facebook regarding an active shooter in the Southport Yacht Basin, advising residents to stay indoors. About 30 minutes after the shooting, the US Coast Guard located the suspect who was loading their boat at a public boat ramp. This according to a police news release. The suspect was taken into custody for questioning by the Oak Island Police Department. Authorities later named the suspect as Nigel Max Edge. In a press release, police announced that he had been arrested and charged with three counts of first degree murder, five counts of attempted first degree murder, and five counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. The motive behind the shooting remains unclear.

[Nancy Grace]

Donna Cloud, 19, moves in with her dad. Splendora, Texas. It's a Northeast suburb of Houston. Their relationship is strained. They argue often. One night she doesn't come home. Dad reports her missing, telling police his daughter left on a blind date with a guy she met online. Cops later learn that's a lie and Donna's father actually told her to leave. After their last argument, two men pick up Donna from the dad's home. One says he drops Donna off safely at a hotel that evening. Donna's active online two days after her disappearance, but her phone pings for the last time in Houston's Westchase neighborhood. That's the southwest side of the city. Donna Cloud, 5, 1, 110 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes. She's got a tattoo of a diamond on her right ring finger and the word Faith tattooed on her right forearm. If you have info on Donna cloud, now missing eight years, call Montgomery County, Texas, sheriffs 936-760-5800. For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and help solve unsolved homicides. With this crime alert, I'm Nancy Grace.

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