GRAND BLANC TWP, MI – For Tamika Williams, the violence that struck a Grand Blanc church on Sept. 28 has left her uneasy in places she once felt safe.
“I worry about going to the local Walmart,” said Williams, who has lived in Grand Blanc for eight years. “I was shocked. At first I didn’t realize how serious it was. Then once the details started rolling in, it was crazy. The hardest thing is it happened at a place you feel most secure. You go there to pray and worship. You don’t think danger can come to you like that. That’s really hard.”
On Tuesday night, Oct. 7, Williams joined hundreds of others at Grand Blanc High School’s football stadium for a candlelight vigil honoring the four people killed and eight injured in the attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Many in the crowd wore “Grand Blanc Strong” shirts and hoodies, or carried signs with the phrase “Better Together,” a reflection of the township’s resolve to stand united.
Residents filled the stands and stood shoulder to shoulder on the track, holding candles against the cool October air. The ceremony had community leaders, educators, law enforcement officials, and residents share words of grief, strength, and hope.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said the tragedy had also revealed the community’s resilience.
“Seeing this community come together, it really brings a sense of unity — that we’re all in this together — and with this, we’re going to strengthen our community. Better together,” he said. “We should be out there practicing love, peace, togetherness, and really that is gonna strengthen the relationships with everybody. We’re gonna get through this, I promise.”
Grand Blanc Superintendent Trevor Alward said the school district paused lessons the Tuesday after the shooting to give students space to process what happened and connect them with mental health supports.
“I really believe you see the best of people in the worst of times,” he said. “I couldn’t be prouder of the community in response to this tragedy.”
Alward added that ensuring students and families were accounted for in the hours after the attack was a critical — and deeply personal — task.
“Our kids are our greatest resource,” he said. “It was a relief to know they were safe.”
For longtime resident Gary Stebbins, the vigil was another reminder of the compassion and solidarity he has witnessed since the attack.
“It hit home,” said Stebbins, who has lived in the township for 40 years. “Who would ever have thought something like this would happen in this township?”
He recalled attending a junior varsity football game where students brought flowers to Grand Blanc cheerleaders in a gesture of support.
“That’s bringing community together,” he said while holding back tears. “This is the type of community we are.”
Others echoed that sentiment. Matthew Kroesing, a resident for five years, said the tragedy underscored how fragile normal life can feel.
“It was a deep thought, whether you’re religious or not, because it was close to home,” he said. “It was a very impactful day and moving forward we knew things would be a little different after that day.”
Kroesing said the rally itself was proof of Grand Blanc’s strength.
“This is the standard the community has set for themselves,” he said.
For many, the vigil was less about answers and more about leaning on one another. Williams, Stebbins, Kroesing, and others said the same thing in different ways — that even in heartbreak, Grand Blanc has shown it will not stand alone.
“This is the type of community we are,” Stebbins said.
More church shooting
Portion of McCandlish Road reopens more than week after church mass killing
Free mental health support available in Grand Blanc after church mass killing
The Detroit Tigers fan, the South African immigrant, and the veterans: 4 lives united by faith before tragedy at Michigan church