Associated Press / news@whmi.com

Search crews did not find any additional bodies inside a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel where a former Marine opened fire and set the building ablaze, killing four people, authorities said Monday.

Authorities had feared they would find more victims in the charred wreckage but now believe everyone is accounted for after Sunday’s attack on the church in Michigan where services were taking place, said Grand Blanc Township Chief of Police William Renye.

Investigators were focusing on what motivated the former Marine to ram his pickup truck into the church in Grand Blanc Township, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of Detroit. The suspect was killed while exchanging gunfire with two officers, the chief said.

Eight people — ages 6 to 78 — were injured, including five with gunshot wounds, the chief said. The others suffered smoke inhalation.

“This was an evil act of violence,” Renye said.

The FBI considered the attack — the second on an American church in little over a month — an “act of targeted violence,” said Ruben Coleman, a special agent in charge for the bureau.

Investigators declined to discuss any possible motives during a news conference Monday.

Authorities identified the shooter as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of the neighboring town of Burton. Investigators deployed a robot while searching Sanford’s residence Sunday but did not say what they found or provide any additional details about him, including whether he had any connection to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said investigators were looking into how much planning went into the attack and whether any clues about the motive were left behind.

“From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith,” she said Monday during an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Fox and Friends.”

Crews in white coveralls and hard hats searched through what remained of the church Monday morning. A silver pickup truck with two American flags in the back remained where it had smashed into the front brick wall near a sign that says “visitors welcome.”

Across the street, there was an SUV with apparent bullet holes in the windshield and driver window.

The attacker apparently used gas to start the fire and also had explosive devices but it wasn’t clear if he used them, said James Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Officers responding to a 911 call were at the church within a minute, said Renye said.

Flames and smoke poured from the church for hours after the attack. The fire gutted nearly all of the building, consuming its towering white steeple and sanctuary — only its outer walls and a few side rooms remained standing.

One of the wounded people was in critical condition Sunday evening and the seven others were stable.

According to records released by the Marine Corps, Sanford served for four years during the early years of the global war on terror. He enlisted in 2004 and was discharged in 2008 at the rank of sergeant. He deployed once to Iraq for seven months and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, indicating three years of service without any major infractions.

The shooting was the latest of several attacks on houses of worship in the U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.

It also was the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than 24 hours. On Saturday night, a man in a boat opened fire on a crowd in Southport, North Carolina, killing three and injuring five.

President Donald Trump asked for prayers for the victims and their families. "THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump wrote on social media.

The shooting occurred a day after Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Utah-based faith, died at 101.

“Places of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection,” spokesperson Doug Anderson said. "We pray for peace and healing for all involved.”

The shooting's impact spread throughout the area
Brandt Malone, a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints who was attending services at a different church Sunday morning, said his congregation was evacuated when they heard about the attack.

“Everyone’s in a state of shock right now,” he said, adding he knows quite a few people who were in the Grand Blanc church. “We view church and our worship services really as a sanctuary.“

Grand Blanc Community Schools were closed Monday to "allow time for families to process and mourn this tragedy with their children,” Superintendent Trevor Alward said in a letter. “This act of violence is reprehensible.”

About 100 people gathered for a prayer service Sunday evening at a nondenominational Christian church in Grand Blanc. Many bowed their heads and some cried softly.

“We live in days that are difficult and troubled, days that are weary and tiring,” said Pastor Chuck Lindsey. “We’re exhausted by the evil, we’re exhausted by these things. But Lord, you are our refuge.”