Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 29 September 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

Gunman in truck smashes into Michigan church and opens fire, killing at least 4 and injuring 8

On the morning of September 28^th, a man rammed a pickup truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building in Michigan, then opened fire on worshippers and set the church ablaze. At least four people were killed, and eight others were wounded in the attack. The shooter, identified as Thomas Sanford, was shot and killed by police in an exchange of gunfire approximately eight minutes after the attack began. The church was heavily damaged by fire and was believed to have been intentionally set by the assailant using gasoline as an accelerant. Investigators continue to search the site, probing for motive and additional victims.

Analyst Comments: The Michigan church attack paints the picture of the evolving tactics of mass violence targeting faith communities. The complex attack combined vehicle ramming, small arms fire, and arson demonstrates the chaos a single perpetrator can cause, which can complicate response and recovery efforts, while maximizing harm to the target. CISA has produced several resources which members may want to review given the recent attacks. The first is an Action Guide on Complex Coordinated Attacks for Soft Targets and Crowded Places. Additionally, members are encouraged to evaluate their risk of vehicle ramming utilizing CISA’s Vehicle Ramming Self-Assessment Tool.

Marine veteran in custody after 3 killed, at least 8 injured in shooting at a waterfront bar in North Carolina, officials say

On the night of September 27^th, a gunman opened fire from a small boat at the American Fish Company, a waterfront bar in Southport North Carolina’s Yacht Basin. The attack left three people dead, and several others injured. The suspect, identified as Nigel Edge, is accused of stopping briefly offshore, firing into the crowd, then fleeing by boat. He was apprehended about 30 minutes later by the U.S. Coast Guard at a public boat ramp. Authorities described the shooting as “highly premediated” and indicated the location was likely targeted. Edge faces charges including multiple counts of first-degree murder and attempted murder.

Analyst Comments: The Southport Yacht Basin was a popular spot for locals and tourists, and a soft target for the likely premeditated attack. There are important lessons for HOWs to consider related to conducting risk assessments and identifying nontraditional avenues of approach and how that may impact incident response. Organizations on waterfronts may consider camera coverage of docks, partnership with harbor patrols, and active-shooter preparedness training that is tailored to outdoor maritime contexts.

A List of Notable Shooting Attacks on Houses of Worship in the US in the Past 20 Years

There has been an increase in mass shootings targeting religious communities, including churches, synagogues, Sikh temples, and other HOWs. Several of the more notable incidents include the September 28^th attack in Michigan, where a gunman drove into a Latter-day Saints church, opened fire, and set the building ablaze, resulting in four people killed and eight wounded. Another recent event in August when two children were killed during a Mass at a Catholic church. Many of these attacks were driven by hate, religious or ethnic targeting, or extremist ideologies; others involved complex motives including mental health or personal grievances. The pattern shows both that such attacks, while still relatively rare compared to other forms of gun violence, are recurring, and hat their impact is amplified by targeting places meant to be safe, communal, and sacred.

Analyst Comments: The persistence of HOWs shows the vulnerability of faith communities to targeted violence, often motivated by hate, ideology, or personal grievances. The trend shows that no denomination or faith group is immune, with victims spreading from Christian, Jewish, Sikh, and other communities. Additionally, recent events show how attacks may combine traditional gun violence with arson or other destructive tactics. FB-ISAO recently released the 2024 threat data that can be viewed here.