A gunman opened fire inside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, after ramming his vehicle into the front door during Sunday services. This tragic event has underscored the ongoing concern over violence in places of worship across the United States.

The Michigan shooting is the latest in a series of attacks targeting religious institutions. Previous shootings include the August 27, 2025, tragedy in Minneapolis, where two children were killed during Mass, and the June 16, 2022, shooting at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Alabama, where three people were killed.

The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program released data in August 2025, revealing 11,679 hate crime incidents involving 14,243 victims in 2024. These crimes are often motivated by race, religion, or sexual orientation, with religion-based bias accounting for 23.5%.

Local law enforcement agencies have been taking steps to address these threats. 

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office stated, "We do not have specific patrols for churches in Charlotte County. However, some of the local churches actually pay for a deputy to be there as part of an 'off-duty detail.'"

The statement went on to say, "In the event of a shooter, the response would be massive, with deputies coming from all districts and likely even off-duty members who are in the area. Going even further, churches can request extra patrols for their respective areas, which essentially increases the number of times members would drive by the area to observe for any suspicious activity. Lastly, our agency offers free active shooter training seminars through our Training Unit as well as literature to give some basic guidance and information."

Sheriff Carmine Marceno of Lee County emphasized the importance of preparedness, saying, "We are trained for active shooter like you've never seen. We have equipment that can be in place immediately, if not at the patrol level, at the special operations level." 

Sheriff Marceno went on to say, "Years ago, churches were left open for people to go in and out of; today, we have to lock them down, which is very unfortunate. And people should be able to pray no matter what they believe in, in a church where they're not worried about their safety."

The Collier County Sheriff's Office has also been proactive, providing training and threat assessments to enhance safety. They conducted active assailant training at Naples Church earlier this year. 

Several national organizations provide training to churches, including Protect His House. Former SWAT Commander and Founder of Protect His House, Tommy Sapp, told WINK Investigates, “There is no doubt the church is under attack. Faith communities are being targeted, and the reality cannot be ignored. For the last ten years, we’ve trained churches across the country to strengthen their security, and we are now seeing a troubling new trend."

Sapp went on to say, "In the past, many attacks began inside the sanctuary. We saw that in Charleston in 2015 and in White Settlement, Texas in 2019. But more recently, the threat has been coming from the outside. We’ve seen it at the Catholic school in Minneapolis, at Charlie Kirk’s event in Utah, and now with the LDS church in Michigan."

"This is why we train churches to focus on perimeter security and behavioral indicators. Leaders and teams need to know what to look for and how to respond quickly. The goal is to spot danger early and stop it before it ever reaches the congregation," Sapp said. 

As communities continue to grapple with these threats, according to law enforcement, the focus remains on ensuring the safety and security of those attending places of worship.