FBI Says Shooter in Deadly Michigan Church Attack Was Motivated by Hatred Toward Mormon Faith

Little remained of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel the day after a former Marine opened fire and set the building ablaze in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., on Sept. 29, 2025. Mark Vancleave/AP Photo

LANSING, Mich.—The former Marine who opened fire in a Michigan church and set it ablaze last month was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the FBI confirmed Friday.

While friends of the gunman in the deadly shooting have said he harbored hatred for what is widely known as the Mormon church, the FBI had previously declined to specify the motivation behind the attack that left four people dead and the church burned to the ground, except to say it was a “targeted” act of violence.