Sunday mornings are meant to be sacred. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, this past weekend was supposed to be just that — a time of prayer, reflection, and fasting. Instead, it became the site of one of America’s most chilling tragedies in recent memory.

Authorities say a 40-year-old man, identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, drove his pickup truck into the chapel’s front doors, carrying two American flags mounted on the vehicle. He then unleashed gunfire on terrified congregants, ignited the building with accelerants, and exchanged shots with police before being killed in the parking lot.

At least four people were killed and eight others wounded, with several still unaccounted for late Sunday.

“A big bang, and the doors flew open”

Witnesses described the chaos with disbelief. Paula, a longtime member of the Grand Blanc congregation, told local station WXYZ that she heard a massive crash just after helping another woman to her car.

“We heard a big bang, and the doors flew open,” she said, recalling the moment Sanford rammed into the building.

Another worshipper, Brian, said he was escorting elderly women to safety when gunfire erupted. His shirt was stained with blood as he recounted seeing the shooter emerge:

“We were trying to gather as many people as we could. I saw the active shooter come out of the building, and at that point, I just started trying to drive away.”

Children were rushed to safety as congregants shielded them with their own bodies, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed.

Flames and gunfire

Gunshots weren’t the only danger. Within minutes, smoke began billowing from the red-brick chapel, its white spire vanishing in flames.

Neighbors like Cindy Walsh, who lives nearby, were horrified. “All of a sudden, I saw smoke coming out. And then people were coming out,” she told reporters.

Firefighters battled the blaze for hours as black smoke darkened the sky. The building is now considered a “total loss”, Renye said. Inside, debris replaced pews, and investigators later discovered suspected explosive devices.

A tragic timing for the LDS community

The timing was especially painful for the LDS church, as worshippers were observing “fast Sunday,” a monthly tradition where members skip meals and donate to the poor. Just a day earlier, the global community had also mourned the passing of its leader, President Russell M. Nelson.

As historian Matthew Bowman of Claremont Graduate University noted, fasting is meant to inspire charity and compassion — making the violence during this ritual all the more unthinkable.

Investigation and aftermath

The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are leading the investigation, treating the attack as targeted violence. Special Agent James Deir confirmed that Sanford used gasoline or a similar accelerant to start the fire deliberately.

Even as law enforcement praised the rapid police response — officers engaged Sanford within minutes — the devastation lingers. Survivors hugged one another at a reunification center while nurses from a nearby strike line abandoned their protest to assist the wounded.

“Human lives matter more than our labor dispute,” said Dan Glass, president of Teamsters Local 332, whose members helped first responders.

For long-time congregants like Paula, the grief is overwhelming: “It’s devastating to know I lost friends. I’ve been part of this church for 38 years.”
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The city of Des Moines was left stunned on Friday after Ian Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) — Iowa’s largest district — was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Federal officials allege that Roberts, 52, was in the United States illegally and had existing weapons charges.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Roberts was taken into custody during what they described as a “targeted enforcement operation.” Authorities claim he attempted to flee before being detained and was found carrying a loaded handgun, $3,000 in cash, and a hunting knife. Federal law prohibits firearm possession by undocumented immigrants.

Roberts, who once represented Guyana in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games as a track-and-field athlete, has had a decades-long career as an educator. Since 2023, he has overseen more than 30,000 students in Des Moines.

DHS vs. district narrative

In statements, DHS painted Roberts as a “criminal alien” and a threat to public safety. But DMPS officials and local community leaders pushed back, calling him an integral part of the school community.

Board president Jackie Norris told reporters: “He has shown up in ways big and small for students and staff. There is new information that we did not know, and we have not been able to verify.”

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The district said Roberts had disclosed a prior firearms offense during the hiring process and provided enough context for officials to move forward with his appointment.

A complex history

Roberts first entered the U.S. on a student visa in 1999, according to DHS. Public records show he pleaded guilty to a weapons charge in Pennsylvania in 2022. DHS claims he also faced charges as early as 2020 and that an immigration judge issued a final order of removal in May 2024.

Despite this, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners granted Roberts a license to serve as superintendent in July 2023. He previously held leadership roles in school districts in New York City, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Oakland, and Erie, Pennsylvania.

Community response and protests

News of Roberts’ detention sparked immediate backlash. Dozens gathered outside the federal courthouse in Des Moines carrying signs reading, “Education, not deportation / Free Dr. Roberts.”

Teacher Mary Pat LaMair expressed solidarity: “It’s really important that we take care of one another. The general public is not okay with what’s happening.”

The Directors Council, a nonprofit serving Des Moines’ Black community, also voiced its support: “Roberts has been a trusted partner, a dedicated advocate for equity, and an unwavering supporter of families and youth in Polk County.”

Meanwhile, immigrant-rights advocates warned of fear spreading among local families. “Our families are afraid that if they go to pick up their kids, if they send them to school, agents might take them away,” said Elizabeth Balcarcel of the Iowa Movement for Migrant Justice.

District moves forward

Following Roberts’ arrest, Matt Smith was named interim superintendent. The district issued a statement emphasizing its priority to maintain stability: “Our priority is to provide a safe, secure and outstanding education for all students and to support our students, families, and employees.”

Roberts remains in custody at a county jail in Council Bluffs, Iowa, according to ICE’s detainee locator system. The Des Moines School Board has scheduled a special closed-session meeting to determine the superintendent’s future.

As the community wrestles with the shock of his detention, Roberts’ story — from immigrant athlete to school leader, now facing deportation — highlights the deep tensions between immigration enforcement, public service, and community trust.

In a highly controversial announcement on Monday, former President Donald Trump claimed that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will alert doctors that using Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy may be associated with a “very increased risk of autism,” despite decades of scientific evidence supporting its safety.

Speaking from the White House alongside US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, and Dr. Mehmet Oz, Trump urged caution for pregnant people, suggesting Tylenol should only be used when medically necessary.

“They are strongly recommending that women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless medically necessary, such as to treat fever, if you can’t tough it out,” Trump said.

Experts and researchers, however, have pointed out that autism is a multifactorial condition and no causal relationship has been established with acetaminophen. High fevers during pregnancy, left untreated, pose significant risks including miscarriage, birth defects, and high blood pressure.

Scientific Evidence Contradicts the Claims

Numerous studies affirm the safety of acetaminophen when used responsibly. A 2024 peer-reviewed Swedish study in JAMA involving over two million children found no association between prenatal acetaminophen exposure and autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. Additionally, a BMC Environmental Health 2025 study concluded that while some associations exist, causality could not be established.

Medical professionals have strongly criticized the announcement. Dr. Steven J. Fleischman, president of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, called it “irresponsible,” stating:

“Today’s announcement dangerously simplifies the many complex causes of neurologic challenges in children and is not backed by the full body of scientific evidence.”

Similarly, Alison Singer, president of the Autism Science Foundation, labeled it “dangerous,” emphasizing that no new studies were presented and that the statements could unduly alarm parents and pregnant individuals.

Public Health Concerns

Trump and Kennedy also used the forum to comment on childhood vaccinations, including delaying the hepatitis B shot, a strategy that public health officials have long endorsed for newborn protection. Critics argue that the announcement undermines established guidance and may discourage safe use of over-the-counter medications during pregnancy.

The FDA clarified that while it is beginning the process to update acetaminophen labeling and notify physicians, parents still retain decision-making authority. Kenvue, the maker of Tylenol, reaffirmed the drug’s safety and stressed consulting healthcare providers before use.

“Acetaminophen is the safest pain reliever option for pregnant women… Without it, women face dangerous choices: suffer through fevers or use riskier alternatives,” the company said.

As the debate unfolds, medical experts urge pregnant individuals to continue evidence-based practices, emphasizing the lowest effective dose for the shortest duration under professional guidance.
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