Thomas Jacob Sanford, identified by police as the gunman who killed four people and injured eight in a shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan, went on anti-Mormon rants ahead of Sunday’s attack, new reports reveal.
Sanford’s friend, Francis Tersigni, told the New York Times the 40-year-old had “this whole fascination with Mormons, and they are the Antichrist, and they are going to take over the world.” Local political candidate Kris Johns also revealed he met Sanford while campaigning last week, telling CBS News he ranted about how the church’s members “believe they're above Jesus."
Sanford previously dated a Mormon woman in Utah who was “extremely religious,” the Times reports. It was a painful breakup, and Sanford was in “rough shape” when he returned to Michigan, according to another friend, Peter Tersigni.
The FBI and other agencies are still investigating the shooting and have yet to publicly confirm Sanford’s motive.
Police say Sanford, a former Marine who was deployed to Iraq in 2007, rammed his truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, set fire to the building, and shot at worshippers. He died in a shootout with police.
Michigan church shooting latest: Key points
- Michigan Mormon church shooting: What we know so far
- Suspect Thomas Sanford hated Mormons because they ‘believe they’re above Jesus’
- Sanford had a previous relationship with a Mormon woman that ended painfully: report
- Police give status update on victims injured in church attack
- "Yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America": Trump
FBI completed 100 interviews in just 24 hours
19:45 , Katie HawkinsonThe FBI interviewed more than 100 victims and witnesses in the first 24 hours following Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
The agency continues to interview more people as it investigates the attack that killed four people and injured eight.
Investigators are also working to obtain search warrants for digital media that might shed light on the motives of suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford, CNN reports. This comes after investigators searched his Michigan home.
FBI deploys victim services team to Grand Blanc Township
19:19 , Katie HawkinsonThe FBI’s Detroit bureau has deployed a victim services team in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, to assist those impacted by Sunday’s shooting.
“The Bureau has deployed a victim services team with personnel from Michigan and others across the country, who are committed to providing support to the victims, their families, and the community,” the agency said in a Tuesday afternoon statement.
The FBI and other agencies continue to investigate Sunday’s deadly attack.
Read the FBI’s full statement here:
ICYMI: Watch as police deliver latest update in Michigan church shooting
19:00 , Katie HawkinsonWhat do we know about Thomas Jacob Sanford's military service?
18:40 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford served as a U.S. Marine from 2004 to 2008, and was deployed to Iraq in 2007.
His father told the Detroit Free Press that he “loved the United States.”
"He came back. I'm glad he came back in one piece," Sanford’s father said. "He was in logistics. He drove a wrecker and went out and picked up vehicles. One time, he was under fire but most of the time he was fine."
Read more about Sanford’s military background:
Iraq war veteran who opened fire on hundreds of Mormons pictured in Trump shirt
‘All about his family’: Stunned ice fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
18:20 , Katie HawkinsonMichigan retiree Lori Farmer, whose husband fished with Thomas Jacob Sanford, told The Independent she was “shocked” to hear the 40-year-old had been identified as the gunman in Sunday’s shooting.
Read the exclusive story from Justin Rohrlich below:
‘All about his family’: Fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
Watch: Jon Stewart lashes out at media’s ‘left-right blame game’ after Michigan shooting
18:03 , Katie HawkinsonThe Daily Show host Jon Stewart lashed out at the media’s ‘left-right blame game’ in the wake of Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
First victim named in Michigan church shooting was a devoted grandfather and Navy veteran
17:45 , Katie HawkinsonJohn Bond has been identified as one of the four victims killed in the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday.
Read more:
First victim named in Michigan church shooting was grandfather and Navy veteran
Michigan church shooter had past relationship with Mormon woman in Utah and heavily used meth, friends reveal
17:30 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford reportedly held a long-simmering hatred for the Mormon faith and was struggling with substance abuse, according to people close to him.
Graig Graziosi has more:
Michigan church shooting: What we know so far
17:15 , Katie HawkinsonHere’s what we know so far about the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
- Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, is accused of ramming his pickup truck into the church on Sunday and opening fire at hundreds of worshippers before setting the building on fire.
- Four victims died, and eight more were injured in the attack, according to law enforcement officials. Sanford was killed in a shootout with police at the scene.
- Sanford’s father, Thomas Sanford, told the Detroit Free Press, "I feel terrible about all the families that have been hurt and they're under the same crap that I'm going under, that my wife and I are going under.”
- Kris Johns, a city council candidate in nearby Burton, Michigan, met Sanford last week while campaigning. He says Sanford went on an anti-Mormon rant and described the church’s members as “the antichrist” during their conversation.
- Sanford dated an “extremely religious” Mormon woman in Utah, but the relationship ended painfully, The New York Times reports.
- A motive for the shooting has yet to be made public.
Shooting occured during Fast and Testimony Meeting at church
16:59 , Katie HawkinsonThe shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, happened during a “Fast and Testimony Meeting,” ABC 4 reports.
The meeting involves church members sharing their feelings on the gospel with fellow congregants, according to the outlet. Church members typically fast afterward.
'Is my family OK?': Shooting survivor recounts horror of the attack
16:50 , Katie HawkinsonPaul Kirby told local outlet WOOD TV he survived the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday.
He recalled the whole building shaking the moment the suspected gunman rammed his truck through the church and opened fire.
“That’s when we hear a loud boom and the back wall of the chapel just buckles inwards. Everything shook,” Kirby said on Monday. “Some people get up and panic and start heading for the parking lot. Some of us decided to go check on it because we thought it was just somebody who ran off the road and hit the building.”
“That’s when I went out to the front of the building, and that’s when I saw the shooter start aiming at people and starting to shoot,” he added. “That’s when I turned around and started running for the door. I felt some shrapnel hit my left leg. And then, as I’m running to the door, a bullet went past me, hit the door on the left side of me about a foot away.”
Kirby recalled the fear he felt during the attack.
“It was the scaredest I’ve ever been in my life,” he said. “It wasn’t the shooter trying to shoot me. It was: ‘Is my family OK?'”
In pictures: Church left in ruins after shooting and fire
16:37 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford is accused of opening fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday morning, killing four people.
But police say he also set fire to the church, leaving the building in ruins.
Local PD shares community resources
16:25 , Katie HawkinsonThe Grand Blanc Police Department has shared community resources that are available for people impacted by the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The “Family Assistance Center,” which is located at the Genesys Banquet and Conference Center, is providing victim advocacy, counseling and emotional support and referrals to other community resources, according to a flyer shared by the police department.
ATF brings in 'world-renowned' team to investigate Michigan church shooting
16:15 , Katie HawkinsonThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has brought in its National Response Team to investigate the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir described the team as “world-renowned investigators for arson and explosive incidents” who have traveled from all over the country at a press conference on Monday.
This comes after officials announced they recovered improvised explosive devices after the attack.
Officials continue to investigate the attack, and have yet to publicly confirm the suspect’s motive.
Watch: Local political candidate recalls meeting Michigan church shooting suspect just days before deadly attack
16:00 , Katie HawkinsonKris Johns, a candidate for city council in Burton, Michigan, says he met suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford while campaigning last week.
During their conversation, Sanford expressed prejudice toward the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and called its members “the antichrist,” Johns said.
Watch below as Johns recalls their conversation:
Woman confirms her son and grandson were injured in shooting
15:50 , Katie HawkinsonBeckie Swainston told The New York Times her son and grandson were both injured in Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
Her son, Ben Phelps, was shot in the abdomen, she said. His current condition is unclear.
His six-year-old son was also shot in the arm and has since been released from the hospital, Swainston said.
Thomas Sanford's young son has a rare genetic disorder
15:40 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford’s young son has a rare genetic disorder, which took a financial toll on the family, CNN reports.
Sanford’s son was born with hyperinsulinism, a rare disorder that caused the pancreas to produce too much insulin. His treatment required multiple hospital stays and surgeries to remove parts of his pancreas, according to CNN.
A GoFundMe page launched in 2015 asked for funds to help the family cover their son’s medical expenses.
In pictures: Grand Blanc Township residents attend prayer service after shooting
15:30 , Katie Hawkinson
Suspect's high school classmate speaks out
15:10 , Katie HawkinsonRyan Lopez, a Michigan resident who attended high school with suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford, told The New York Times he ran into the 40-year-old at the gym just a few weeks before the shooting.
“He was happy to see me,” Lopez said of Sanford, who was killed in a shootout with police. “He just seemed normal.”
Lopez said Sanford enjoyed hunting and grew up like a typical “country kid.” Lopez noted that they both joined the Marines after high school. Sanford served from 2004 to 2008, and was deployed to Iraq in 2007.
Sanford’s father, Thomas Sanford, told the Detroit Free Press that his son worked with vehicles while enlisted.
"He came back. I'm glad he came back in one piece," he said. "He was in logistics. He drove a wrecker and went out and picked up vehicles. One time, he was under fire but most of the time he was fine."
Jon Stewart rips into ‘narcissistic media’ over response to mass shootings after Michigan tragedy
14:55 , Katie HawkinsonJon Stewart lashed out against the media’s “left-right blame game” as he discussed the deadly Michigan church shooting on Monday’s episode of The Daily Show.
Owen Scott has the story:
Jon Stewart rips ‘narcissistic media’ response after Michigan Mormon mass shooting
ICYMI: Officials praised 'heroes' at the scene of the Michigan church shooting
14:41 , Katie HawkinsonLaw enforcement officials praised the “heroes” who sprang into action when gunfire broke out at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
“I will tell you that there are noble heroes who do not wear a uniform that went to that church [on Sunday],” Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said at a press conference on Monday.
“I will tell you this: those heroes from that church did their job,” he added.
It has since been revealed that two fourth-year emergency residents at the nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital were present at the church and helped others in the midst of the attack, despite being victims themselves.
A GoFundMe page identified them as Jared Hicken and S Bridger Hampton.
“Not only were they victims, but they also sprang into action, helping others amidst danger, smoke, and confusion,” the page reads.
What do we know about Sanford's former relationship with a Mormon woman?
14:22 , Katie HawkinsonThomas Jacob Sanford previously lived in Utah and dated a woman there who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The New York Times reports.
They fell in love, but the relationship ended painfully, according to the outlet.
When Sanford returned to Michigan after the relationship, he was “in rough shape,” his friend, Peter Tersigni, told the Times.
Sandra Winter, who rented a room to Sanford in Utah, also told the Times that he had dated an “extremely religious” woman and that he felt pressure to join the church.
“He wasn’t so sure that he wanted to become a member of the church,” she said. “But he really wanted to be with this woman.”
Police have yet to confirm Sanford’s motive. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told FOX & Friends on Monday that investigators believe Sanford “hated people of the Mormon faith.”
Sanford was a heavy meth user, friends say
14:05 , Paul FarrellA long-time friend of Sanford’s, Peter Tersigni, told The New York Times that the gunman’s time in the military changed him.
After leaving the Marines, Sanford went to live in Jeremy’s Ranch, Utah, where he became romantically involved with a woman who was a devout follower of the Mormon church.
The Times reports that during these times, the gunman became a heavy user of methamphetamine.
Tersigni said that his relationship ended “painfully.”
Tersigni’s brother, Francis, said that the gunman would talk endlessly about Mormons.
“He got this whole fascination with Mormons, and they are the Antichrist, and they are going to take over the world. All he could talk about was Mormons. I was like, dude, nobody wants to hear about this stuff,” Francis Tersigni said.
Two of those who were wounded aspiring doctors who sprang into action to help the injured
13:34 , Paul FarrellTwo of those wounded in Sunday’s attack are aspiring doctors Jared Hicken and S Bridger Hampton.
Both are fourth-year emergency residents at Henry Ford Genesys in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
A GoFundMe page set up for the pair has raised over $50,000.
“Not only were they victims, but they also sprang into action, helping others amidst danger, smoke, and confusion,” the page reads.
‘All about his family’: Stunned ice fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
13:10 , Joe SommerladOne former acquaintance of Thomas Jacob Sanford called him a “good guy,” saying she and her husband, who worked with him, were “shocked” to hear his name read out on the news.
Here’s Justin Rohrlich’s exclusive reporting on the shocked reaction to Sunday’s events from the suspect’s friends and neighbors.
‘All about his family’: Fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
The first victim has been named as Navy veteran John Bond
13:08 , Paul FarrellJohn Bond, a U.S. Navy veteran, a beloved father and grandfather, was identified by his family as having died during the attack, according to an ABC News report.
His family said that Bond was a “well-known and loved member of his family and active in his community.”
His passions in life were his family, grandkids, golf, and trains.
According to a GoFundMe page that his loved ones have set up, he is survived by his wife, Joanne. At the time of writing, the page has raised over $11,000.
Alleged mom of Michigan church shooter made eerie Facebook post days before attack
12:41 , Joe SommerladTwo days before Sunday’s massacre, the mother of suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford made a cryptic post on Facebook about someone in her life who refused to take “accountability” and who always “twists everything.”
That’s according to reports from The New York Post and The Daily Mail, which identified the now-deleted Facebook profile as belonging to Sanford’s mother Brenda.
It’s not clear who her post was referring to and the words were not originally hers. Instead, they seem to have been part of a copy-pasted meme that has been circulating on social media since at least August.
Io Dodds has the story.
Alleged mom of Michigan church shooter made eerie Facebook post days before attack
Gabrielle Giffords responds to Michigan shooting
12:10 , Joe SommerladFormer congresswoman and gun violence prevention activist Gabrielle Giffords called yesterday’s shooting “devastating” in a statement on X.
“Families deserve safety wherever they are, but being targeted while practicing one’s faith is especially horrific,” Giffords said.
“We know that more can be done to save lives and prevent targeted violence. Our leaders, on both sides of the aisle, must act now, before yet another community is altered forever by a horrific mass shooting.”
Today’s news of a shooting in Grand Blanc, Michigan attacking the Latter-day Saints community during worship is devastating. Families deserve safety wherever they are, but being targeted while practicing one’s faith is especially horrific.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) September 28, 2025
We know that more can be done to save…
The ex-lawmaker founded GIFFORDS, a gun violence prevention organization, in 2013 after she was shot in the head two years prior at a constituent event in Tucson, Arizona.
Man in custody after he drove through barricade near church, police said
11:40 , Joe SommerladA 21-year-old man is in custody after he drove through a barricade near the scene of the shooting on Monday afternoon, police said.
Police say a 21-year-old man was taken into custody this morning after he drove past a barricade near the Grand Blanc Township church where a mass shooting and fire happened. https://t.co/g1XPeQ32MJ pic.twitter.com/BzKoMOPAUM
— WXYZ Detroit (@wxyzdetroit) September 29, 2025
Recap: Doctors provide status update on Michigan church shooting victims
11:10 , Joe SommerladHospital officials provided an update yesterday afternoon on the eight people, ages six to 78, they treated in the wake of the Michigan church shooting.
Five of the victims were treated for gunshot wounds, while the other three were treated for smoke inhalation. Here’s what we know currently about the victims’ status:
- One patient died in the emergency department.
- Doctors stabilized a child before transferring them to another hospital.
- One smoke inhalation patient remains intubated, while the other two have been discharged.
- One victim is in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
- One victim who was shot in the abdomen is in “critical condition, still, mostly stable,” according to officials.
- One man was brought in with a gunshot to the leg.
Watch more updates from law enforcement below:
Suspected shooter's previous arrests
10:40 , Rachel DobkinThomas Jacob Sanford, the man accused of opening fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, Sunday morning, and then setting the church on fire, had previously been in trouble with law enforcement.
Sanford had been arrested for burglary and operating a vehicle while intoxicated in the past, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said Monday, according to multiple reports.
Marine Corps release Sanford’s service record, revealing multiple medals
10:10 , Joe SommerladThe U.S. Marine Corps has released the service record of Thomas Jacob Sanford, confirming that he served a four-year enlistment from June 2004 to June 2008 as an organizational automotive mechanic and a vehicle recovery operator.
He deployed to Iraq from August 2007 to March 2008 and his military awards included the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
Sanford left the Marine Corps as a sergeant and his final duty assignment was with the 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune.
Jon Stewart reacts to Michigan church shooting
09:40 , Joe SommerladThe Daily Show host used his monologue on Monday night to decry the “orgy of mass shootings” that took place over the weekend – the Michigan shooting just one of six, including others in North Carolina, Louisiana and Texas – and President Donald Trump’s response: sending troops into Portland, Oregon.
Stewart also took the media to task over its coverage of the killings, politicians (like Whitmer) who blame “rhetoric” while failing to find meaningful solutions and a “psychotic” internet culture that no longer permits coherent political disagreement.
What "war" in Portland is Trump talking about? The battle of mellow artisans? pic.twitter.com/fugsNYuNiP
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 30, 2025
Michigan governor urges public to tone down political rhetoric in wake of shooting
09:10 , Joe SommerladAt a press conference Monday, Gretchen Whitmer said Sunday’s atrocity at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc provided further evidence, if any were needed, of why it is so important to “lower the temperature of rhetoric” on contentious issues.
“While the good men and women who are working hard are doing so with due diligence at this juncture, speculation is unhelpful, and it can be downright dangerous,” Whitmer said.
The governor has ordered flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff and said she had spoken with President Donald Trump, who extended his condolences.
“Your grief is our grief,” she told the church and its followers.
I know that this community is hurting right now and I want you to know that Michiganders across the state have your back.⁰⁰We believe that everyone deserves the freedom to pray, go to school, or take a walk on their block in peace, no matter who they are.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) September 29, 2025
Suspect hated Mormons because they ‘believe they’re above Jesus’
08:40 , Joe SommerladKris Johns, who is running for city council in Burton, Michigan, has told CBS News that he met Sanford at his house last week while out campaigning.
He said Sanford revealed a resentment of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints church because its followers “believe they’re above Jesus.”
Johns added that the same man told him he moved to Utah for a fresh start to plow snow and that, while he was there, he started a relationship with a Mormon woman but took exception to her church’s rules, saying: “They wanted me to get rid of my tattoos. They wanted me to do all this stuff, and I wouldn’t do it.”
Johns said they otherwise did not talk politics: “He said nothing about Charlie Kirk, nothing about our current president or past president. He asked me about guns. I said I support the Second Amendment. We ended the conversation very positively.”
Johns, who said he has given a statement to the FBI and state police since Sunday’s events unfolded, also said that Sanford had told him that he had issues with drugs since his return from overseas deployment with the Marines.
His insights tally with what White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox and Friends Monday about the suspect’s motivations:
Local pastor calls Michigan church shooting 'surreal'
08:00 , Rachel DobkinPastor Jerome Taylor has said the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township Sunday was “surreal.”
Taylor is a pastor at the Eastgate Baptist Church, next door to where shooting suspect Thomas Jacob Sanford lived in Burton.
"It's certainly surreal and unexpected," Taylor told the Detroit Free Press. “Many of our church members asked the same question, 'How could this happen with one of the members of our neighborhood?' [But] Mr. Sanford had very little affiliation with our church aside from sharing a property line."
LDS leaders from across the country are helping 'traumatized' Michigan members
07:00 , Rachel DobkinLeaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from across the country are helping “traumatized” members after a gunman opened fire on the Church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday.
"Members of our local congregation and members of the church and leaders of the church from other parts of the country are here and seeking to help," Greg Geiger, director of communications for the metro Detroit region of the Church, told the Detroit Free Press Monday.
Geiger continued: "We're at this moment, meeting with our senior leaders to talk about the needs of the individual members of our congregation, who of course, are traumatized, physically, emotionally, in every other way.
“So our focus at the moment really is on how can we help, help the survivors and all those impacted ... to make it through and to begin to deal with the feelings that they have."
In pictures: Church burned down after Michigan shooting
06:30 , Rachel DobkinOn Sunday, a gunman opened fire on worshippers at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, before setting the place on fire.
Five people died, including suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, and eight more were injured.
Here are some photos of the damage to the church:
Michigan AG says Michigan church shooting has 'all the hallmarks of a hate crime'
06:00 , Rachel DobkinMichigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told CNN Monday night the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday has “all the hallmarks of a hate crime.”
“We've done a lot in our state to try to combat this sort of extremism. We have passed a new hate crimes law, a new, institutional desecration law, and we also have extreme risk protection orders, which are red flag laws,” Nessel told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
Senator says police need 'a minute' to find Michigan church shooter's motive
05:30 , Rachel DobkinSenator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, told CNN Monday night police need “a minute” to find the motive behind Thomas Jacob Sanford, who has been accused of opening fire on worshippers at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday.
When asked how close law enforcement was to determining a motive for the shooting, Slotkin said, “They're doing their jobs, which takes time. But that's exploiting equipment from the shooter. That means interviewing a ton of witnesses, but also family members and friends.”
She continued: “We just ask people to let law enforcement do their job. They came to protect us and they're gonna do that. They just gotta have a minute. “
"Unimaginable terror:" @SenatorSlotkin reacts to the deadly attack on a Michigan church one town over from her own home. "It's hard to take in," she adds. pic.twitter.com/nLL8hh4Qv5
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) September 30, 2025
Man who attacked Michigan church became 'unhinged' when talking about Mormon faith
05:00 , Rachel DobkinThe man who shot up a Michigan church and set a fire that killed four people was a former U.S. Marine who expressed animosity about the Mormon faith to a city council candidate knocking on doors just days before the attack.
Thomas Sanford, who was known as Jake, drove a pickup truck with a deer skull and antlers strapped to the front and two large American flags flapping in the wind in the bed, according to friends and social media posts.
Sanford, 40, smashed that truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township, according to authorities. He was killed by police officers who rushed to the scene Sunday, 60 miles northwest of Detroit. The building was destroyed.
Kris Johns, a council candidate in Burton, said he met Sanford while introducing himself to voters last week. He told MLive.com that Sanford was pleasant but became “unhinged” when he suddenly began talking about the Mormon church, as it is widely known.
Read more from Ed White:
Man who attacked Michigan church became 'unhinged' when talking about Mormon faith
Watch: Police provide update on Michigan church shooting
04:45 , Rachel DobkinPeople who knew Michigan church shooting suspect said he seemed 'normal' and 'like a nice guy'
04:30 , Rachel DobkinPeople who knew Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man accused of opening fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday, said he seemed “normal” and “like a nice guy.”
“He was happy to see me. He just seemed normal,” Ryan Lopez, Sanford’s former high school classmate who last saw the suspected shooter at a gym a few weeks ago, told The New York Times.
Randy Thronson, Sanford’s neighbor, told the NYT he hadn’t talked to the suspected shooter in roughly two years, but he “seemed like a nice guy.”
“Something must have happened, snapped somehow,” he said.
‘All about his family’: Stunned ice fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
03:30 , Rachel DobkinAfter Thomas Jacob Sanford rammed his pickup into the front doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, he allegedly aimed an assault-style rifle at the worshippers inside, killing four people and wounding eight others.
A Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, Sanford, 40, then set fire to the structure, according to authorities. As terrified parishioners tried to escape the blaze, Sanford was killed at the scene by police.
Retiree Lori Farmer, who lives nearby with husband Ron, told The Independent that she was “shocked” when she heard Sanford identified as the shooter. Farmer and her husband, who worked with Sanford, are “still reeling,” she said.
“He was a good guy,” Farmer said. “All about his family.”
Sanford, who met her husband while driving a truck for Coca-Cola, had gone ice fishing with the couple, and once helped them remove a big spruce tree from their property, according to Farmer. Sanford and his wife, who was part of the LDS church, had a son with special needs; Sanford reportedly had gotten his tattoos removed so he could participate in LDS ceremonies.
Read more from Justin Rohrlich:
‘All about his family’: Fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
Michigan lawmakers send bipartisan message about the shooting: 'Don't believe every theory you read on social media'
03:00 , Rachel DobkinMichigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, and Republican state Representative Mike Mueller came together to share a message in the wake of Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township.
“Take a breath. Don't believe every theory you read on social media,” Slotkin said.
Mueller added, “Wait for the FBI to do their investigation. They’ll find the motive, and let’s heal as a community.”
Take a breath. Don't believe every theory you read on social media. What the Grand Blanc community needs more than anything is for all of us to rise above.
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) September 29, 2025
That's the message state Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Linden) and I wanted to convey today when we visited with local leaders. pic.twitter.com/1KXmvubkp2
Michigan church shooting: What we know so far
02:39 , Rachel Dobkin- Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, is accused of ramming his pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, Sunday morning and then opening fire at hundreds of worshippers before setting the place on fire.
- Five people died, including Sanford, and eight more were injured in the attack, according to authorities. Police say they killed the suspected shooter in a parking lot behind the church.
- Sanford’s father, Thomas Sanford, told the Detroit Free Press, "I feel terrible about all the families that have been hurt and they're under the same crap that I'm going under, that my wife and I are going under.”
- City council candidate Kris Johns in nearby Burton, said the suspected shooter described the church’s members as “the antichrist” when they spoke last week, the Detroit Free Press reports.
- A motive for the shooting has yet to be made public.
Michigan governor says 'everyone deserves the freedom to pray' after Grand Blanc meeting
02:30 , Rachel DobkinMichigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has said “everyone deserves the freedom to pray” after meeting with officials in Grand Blanc Township, following Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I met with first responders and local officials in Grand Blanc today after yesterday's horrific attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) September 29, 2025
We are grateful for the actions of a local police officer and conservation officer whose bravery saved lives. pic.twitter.com/fi5eRuQIvd
Senator says Michigan church 'burnt down to the bricks'
02:00 , Rachel DobkinSenator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat who visited the site of Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, said the Church was “burnt down to the bricks.”
Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, is accused of ramming his pickup truck into the front doors of the church and opening dire on worshippers inside before setting fire to the structure.
Police killed Sanford in a parking lot behind the church. At least four people were killed and eight were injured in the attack.
Slotkin said on CNN Monday night, “The church is basically gone...It’s just burnt down to the bricks.”
“The unimaginable terror that went on in that place of worship during a church service, it’s just hard to take in,” the senator added.
Alleged mom of Michigan church shooter posted eerie message days before attack criticizing person ‘avoiding accountability’
01:30 , Rachel DobkinTwo days before the massacre at a Mormon church in Michigan, the mother of suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford made a cryptic post on Facebook about someone in her life who refused to take "accountability" and who always "twists everything.”
That is according to reports from The New York Post and The Daily Mail, which identified the now-deleted Facebook profile as belonging to Sanford's mother, Brenda.
It's not clear who her post was referring to, and the words were not originally hers. Instead, they seem to have been part of a copy-pasted meme that has been circulating on social media since at least August.
Police have named Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, as the man who killed four people and injured at least eight others in an attack on a Mormon Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan on Sunday morning.
"People lack accountability, then say, 'you could’ve talked to me.' No, I couldn’t. Because talking to you isn’t really a conversation," the post read in part.
Read more from Io Dodds:
Alleged mom of Michigan church shooter made eerie Facebook post days before attack
In pictures: Michigan residents hold prayer vigil following shooting
01:00 , Katie Hawkinson
What do we know about the suspected gunman's military service?
Tuesday 30 September 2025 00:30 , Katie HawkinsonSuspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford served as a U.S. Marine from 2004 to 2008, and was deployed to Iraq in 2007.
His father told the Detroit Free Press that he “loved the United States.”
"He came back. I'm glad he came back in one piece," Sanford’s father said. "He was in logistics. He drove a wrecker and went out and picked up vehicles. One time, he was under fire but most of the time he was fine."
ICYMI: ATF brings in National Response Team
Tuesday 30 September 2025 00:00 , Katie HawkinsonThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has brought in its National Response Team to investigate Sunday’s shooting, law enforcement officials said at a Monday afternoon press conference.
“This is a cadre of world-renowned investigators for arson and explosive incidents,” ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir said. “They have been used all over the world, and they come from places as far as California, Hawaii, and they're here in Michigan now.”
The suspected shooter set fire to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday. Officials said investigators also recovered improvised explosive devices.
ICYMI: Doctors provide status update on Michigan church shooting victims
Monday 29 September 2025 23:30 , Katie HawkinsonHospital officials provided an update on the eight people, ages 6 to 78, they treated in the wake of the Michigan church shooting.
Five of the victims were treated for gunshot wounds, while the other three were treated for smoke inhalation. Here’s what we know about the victims’ status, according to a statement from hospital officials on Monday afternoon:
- One patient died in the emergency department.
- Doctors stabilized a child before transferring them to another hospital.
- One smoke inhalation patient remains intubated, while the other two have been discharged.
- One victim is in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
- One victim who was shot in the abdomen is in “critical condition, still, mostly stable,” according to officials.
- One man was brought in with a gunshot to the leg.
Watch more updates from law enforcement below:
Read Trump's full comments on the Michigan church shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 23:00 , Katie HawkinsonPresident Donald Trump issued a statement on Sunday afternoon, decrying the shooting at a Michigan church that left four people dead and eight injured.
“This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America,” he wrote.
Read his full Truth Social statement below:
Suspected shooter's family asks for privacy in wake of shooting: 'We have no answers'
Monday 29 September 2025 22:30 , Katie HawkinsonThe family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man accused of killing four people and injuring eight in a shooting at a Michigan church on Sunday, told NBC News in a statement that they have no explanation for the 40-year-old’s actions.
"We are completely in shock over this; we have no answers," the statement said. "We are asking for privacy as we grieve our loss and those of the others."
Full story: Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS rant in days leading up to shooting, local political candidate says
Monday 29 September 2025 22:15 , Katie HawkinsonThe man accused of killing four people at a Michigan church on Sunday went on a rant describing Latter-day Saints as “the antichrist” just days before the shooting, a local political candidate claims.
Read the full story below:
Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS rant before shooting: report
Local official reacts to shooting: 'We are heartbroken'
Monday 29 September 2025 21:46 , Katie HawkinsonGrand Blanc Township Supervisor Scott Bennett told the Detroit Free Press he’s heartbroken following Sunday’s shooting, which left four victims dead.
"This kind of violence doesn't happen in our community," Bennett said. "We are heartbroken that it came to Grand Blanc Township."
Bennett says he plans to “do everything we can to support families, the victims and our community getting through this situation, something that no community ever wants to have."
Suspected gunman's father speaks out
Monday 29 September 2025 21:27 , Katie HawkinsonThomas Sanford, the father of the suspected Michigan church gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford, has spoken out in the wake of Sunday’s fatal shooting.
He spoke to the Detroit Free Press on Monday, just one day after police said his son opened fire at a Grand Blanc Township church, killing four people and injuring eight.
"I feel terrible about all the families that have been hurt and they're under the same crap that I'm going under, that my wife and I are going under," he said. "I apologize for that."
The suspected gunman was killed at the scene by police.
Sanford said his son was devoted to his family and his country. He noted his son’s military service, which spanned from 2004 to 2008. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007.
"He came back. I'm glad he came back in one piece," he said. "He was in logistics. He drove a wrecker and went out and picked up vehicles. One time, he was under fire but most of the time he was fine."
"He loved the United States; he loved his family," he added. "He was a good man. He was a family man."
He also didn’t speculate on his son’s motive.
"The only thing I can say is that it was my son that did it," he said. "As far as why? Irrelevant. It happened. We're dealing with it. It's been a nightmare."
Watch: Karoline Leavitt says Michigan church shooter 'hated people of the Mormon faith'
Monday 29 September 2025 21:10 , Katie HawkinsonIraq war veteran who opened fire on hundreds of Mormon worshippers pictured in Donald Trump shirt
Monday 29 September 2025 20:40 , Katie HawkinsonThomas Jacob Sanford, the man accused of killing four people at a Michigan church, was seen wearing a pro-Donald Trump shirt with the slogan “Make Liberals Cry Again” on social media.
Andrea Cavallier, Isabel Keane and Paul Farrell have the story:
Iraq war veteran who opened fire on hundreds of Mormons pictured in Trump shirt
Watch: Police provide update on victims in Michigan church shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 20:20 , Katie HawkinsonWatch the latest update from police below:
Local political candidate says suspected gunman called Latter-day Saints 'the antichrist'
Monday 29 September 2025 19:58 , Katie HawkinsonKris Johns, a city council candidate in Burton, Michigan, says suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford ranted that Latter-day Saints are “the antichrist” just days before Sunday’s shooting, The Detroit Free Press reports.
Johns said he spoke with Sanford while canvassing less than a week before the shooting. He described the 40-year-old as “extremely friendly” and said he did not seem violent.
Investigators recovered explosives in connection with shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 19:30 , Katie HawkinsonPolice recovered “improvised explosive devices” during their investigation into Sunday’s shooting at the Grand Blanc Township Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has brought in its National Response Team to investigate the shooting and explosives, law enforcement officials noted.
Full story: Karoline Leavitt claims Michigan church shooter ‘hated people of the Mormon faith’
Monday 29 September 2025 19:00 , Katie HawkinsonWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said investigators believe the man accused of fatally shooting four people at a Michigan church “hated people of the Mormon faith.”
Meanwhile, law enforcement officials have declined to comment on the shooter’s motive.
Read more:
Karoline Leavitt claims Michigan church shooter ‘hated people of the Mormon faith’
Motive still unclear after law enforcement give updates
Monday 29 September 2025 18:32 , Katie HawkinsonPolice declined to provide additional details on the motive of suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford when pressed at a Monday afternoon press conference.
The response came after a reporter asked investigators to elaborate on why they described the shooting as a “targeted” attack.
“When I say targeted violence, I mean targeted within our state and within our community,” a law enforcement official said.
What do we know about the Michigan church shooting victims?
Monday 29 September 2025 18:18 , Katie HawkinsonHospital officials provided an update on the eight people, ages 6 to 78, they treated in the wake of Sunday’s shooting.
Five of the victims were treated for gunshot wounds, while the other three were treated for smoke inhalation. Here’s what we know about the victims, according to hospital officials:
- One patient died in the emergency department.
- Doctors stabilized a child before transferring them to another hospital.
- One smoke inhalation patient remains intubated, while the other two have been discharged.
- One victim is in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
- One victim who was shot in the abdomen is in “critical condition, still, mostly stable,” according to officials.
- One man was brought in with a gunshot to the leg.
21-year-old in custody after he drove through barricade near church, police said
Monday 29 September 2025 17:52 , Katie HawkinsonA 21-year-old man is in custody after he drove through a barricade near the scene of the shooting on Monday afternoon, police said.
Reports indicated he drove a red car through the barricade late Monday morning.
Five people killed in shooting, eight injured
Monday 29 September 2025 17:49 , Katie HawkinsonFive people were killed and eight were injured at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, police said on Monday afternoon.
The death toll includes the suspected gunman, who was killed at the scene, police said.
ATF brings in National Response Team
Monday 29 September 2025 17:44 , Katie HawkinsonThe Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has brought in its National Response Team to investigate Sunday’s shooting, law enforcement officials said at a Monday afternoon press conference.
“This is a cadre of world-renowned investigators for arson and explosive incidents,” ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir said. “They have been used all over the world, and they come from places as far as California, Hawaii, and they're here in Michigan now.”
The suspected shooter set fire to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday. Police also found suspected explosives linked to the shooting.
Michigan governor says she's heartbroken over shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 17:38 , Katie HawkinsonMichigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed heartbreak following the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
“I'm here as the governor, but I'm also here as a fellow Michigander whose heart is breaking by another mass shooting in a place that is supposed to be defined by togetherness, in a close-knit community here in Grand Blanc,” Whitmer said at a Monday afternoon press conference.
Whitmer has ordered that flags be lowered to half-mast statewide. The governor also said she spoke with President Donald Trump, who has offered his condolences.
Watch: Sheriff shares update the morning after a gunman opened fire at a Michigan church, killing four and injuring eight
Monday 29 September 2025 17:17 , Katie HawkinsonMan drives car through barricade near scene of shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 16:46 , Katie HawkinsonA man in a red car slammed his vehicle through a barricade near the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Monday afternoon, CNN reports.
The driver was then put into a police officer’s car. His identity and motive aren’t yet clear.
Michigan senator provides update following church shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 16:40 , Katie HawkinsonSenator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan, told reporters yesterday’s shooting was “abhorrent to any good human being,” according to NBC News.
Slotkin made the remarks on Monday morning following a multi-agency meeting about yesterday’s shooting. The local police department and federal officials will provide more updates at 12:30 p.m. today.
"It doesn't matter what party you're from," Slotkin said. "This kind of thing just chills you to the bone. We have a crisis going on.”
Karoline Leavitt says shooter 'hated people of the Mormon faith' as authorities probe motive
Monday 29 September 2025 16:16 , Katie HawkinsonWhite House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that investigators believe the suspected gunman “hated people of the Mormon faith.”
“From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is that this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith,” Leavitt said on Monday.
The suspected shooter, former U.S. Marine Thomas Jacob Sanford, was killed at the scene. His family is cooperating with investigators, according to Leavitt.
“They are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note. All of those questions are yet to be answered but certainly will be answered by the FBI,” she added.
Gabrielle Giffords responds to Michigan shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 16:00 , Katie HawkinsonFormer Congresswoman and gun violence prevention activist Gabrielle Giffords called yesterday’s shooting “devastating” in a statement on X.
“Families deserve safety wherever they are, but being targeted while practicing one’s faith is especially horrific,” Giffords said. “We know that more can be done to save lives and prevent targeted violence.”
She added: “Our leaders, on both sides of the aisle, must act now, before yet another community is altered forever by a horrific mass shooting.”
The ex-lawmaker founded GIFFORDS, a gun violence prevention organization, in 2013 after she was shot in the head two years prior at a constituent event in Tucson, Arizona.
