After the suspect left the church, two officers pursued him and “engaged in gunfire,” Renye said. Flames and smoke could be seen pouring from the church for hours before the blaze was put out. The church building, circled by a parking lot and a large lawn, is near residential areas and a Jehovah’s Witness church. It is in Grand Blanc Township, a community of roughly 40,000 people outside Flint. “Although we are two separate governmental units, we are a very cohesive community,” said city of Grand Blanc Mayor John Creasey.