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Tragic Church Attack Claims Five Lives, FBI Investigates

9/29/2025

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Five people died in the September 28, 2025 attack, including Thomas Jacob Sanford.
Sanford, a 40-year-old Iraq War veteran, rammed a pickup into the church, fired an assault rifle, and set it ablaze.
Two bodies were found in the ruins as searches continue.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) leads the investigation, with improvised explosive devices reported.

History

Historical Context

The 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, which claimed 49 lives, marked a significant moment in the rise of domestic terrorism in the U.S., with the FBI reporting 1,000 hate crime incidents that year. The September 28, 2025, attack on a church by an Iraq War veteran, resulting in five deaths, reflects ongoing violence against marginalized communities and underscores the urgent need for strategies to combat domestic extremism.

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Story summary

Five people died in the September 28, 2025 attack, including Thomas Jacob Sanford.
Sanford, a 40-year-old Iraq War veteran, rammed a pickup into the church, fired an assault rifle, and set it ablaze.
Two bodies were found in the ruins as searches continue.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) leads the investigation, with improvised explosive devices reported.

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