A shocking incident took place at a Michigan church when a shooter identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford launched a shooting spree, killing four and injuring eight others.
Thomas rammed his pickup truck into the church and opened fire on the congregation, before setting the building ablaze, with the police eventually shooting him dead in a parking lot behind the church.
Who is Thomas Jacob Sanford, Grand Blanc, Michigan church shooting shooter suspect and what was his motive
Remember: Thomas Jacob Sanford was:
– Not Black
– Not Trans
– Not Muslim
– Not an Immigrant
– Not a DemocratInstead! He was:
– A White man
– A Trump Supporter
– A US VeteranWhy MAGA staying silent? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/NhOVDX0So4
— Lucas Sanders 💙🗳️🌊💪🌈🚺🟧 (@LucasSa56947288) September 29, 2025
Michigan LDS shooting Update
Authorities stated all the missing have been accounted for – final death toll is 4 souls.
The killer was an Iraqi war veteran named Thomas Jacob Sanford.
Why did he do this abominable crime?
I truly think he hated the LDS community, based on his… pic.twitter.com/vPZ9Zcg3mn
— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) September 29, 2025
Investigators are now investigating to uncover his main motive, with the attack shaking the local community.
Michigan church shooting gunman identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford
Following the tragic incident, police identified the gunman as Thomas Jacob Sanford, who was a resident of Burton, Michigan, and a former U.S. Marine. Thomas was killed during a shootout with responding officers just eight minutes after the first emergency call came in. Grand Blanc Police Chief William Reyne said:
“The suspect was neutralized in the parking lot after exchanging gunfire with officers.”
More info;
Tella Sanford is the wife. His mother is Brenda Walters-Sanford. Apparently his child, Brantlee, has/had a GoFundMe page due to medical condition. They’re starting to lock up and deleted social media pages. pic.twitter.com/LMmdHvrSkO— Victoria ✈️ (@UGAGirl7280) September 28, 2025
Michigan church shooting
The incident started at around 10:25 a.m. during Sunday service at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township. As hundreds of worshippers, including families with children, gathered inside, Sanford smashed his pickup truck through the church’s entrance and opened fire with an assault rifle. Just moments later, he started setting parts of the building on fire. According to Paula, who is a Sunday school teacher:
“We heard a big bang and the doors blew. My church is gone. I joined 38 years ago, and now it’s gone. It’s devastating to know I’ve lost friends and to see somebody would do this to our church.”
The gunman then fled the building and exchanged fire with two police officers in the parking lot, where he was fatally shot.
Motive behind the shooting
Authorities are still digging into Sanford’s background to determine the exact motive behind the attack. Investigators are currently searching his property, reviewing phone records, and examining his movements up to the final days leading up to the shooting. Homeland security expert Donell Harvin shared that the attack appeared methodical and calculated and described it as a “hybrid threat” that combined vehicle ramming, shooting, and arson.
This is Thomas Jacob Sandford brother in Law, Tella Sandford ‘S brother.
The shooter was:
Not gay/trans/leftwing.
He seemed to be: MAGA. pic.twitter.com/doHi2r9hmH— 👊🏼🇨🇦🔥elbows up 💪🏼🇨🇦🔥 (@alexiaCrossett1) September 29, 2025
Official statements
Following the brutal attack, the Church issued a statement, saying:
“During Sunday worship services, a gunman opened fire, and early reports indicate that multiple individuals were injured. We ask for cooperation with local authorities as details become available.”
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attack on Truth Social, writing:
“This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. Pray for the victims and their families. This epidemic of violence must end immediately.”
In response to the attack, Texas Governor Greg Abbott also announced plans to form a task force aimed at protecting places of worship from similar threats.
As of now, a motive behind the shooting isn’t known and FBI’s special agent in charge of the bureau’s Detroit field office, Reuben Coleman, said that the bureau is currently looking for a motive.
Thomas Jacob Sanford biography and age
Thomas Jacob Sanford was a 40-year-old man who was born and raised in Burton, Michigan. He graduated from a local high school in 2004, and his classmates remembered him as a typical “country kid” who loved hunting geese, turkey, and deer. After completing high school, Sanford enlisted in the Marines and deployed to Iraq, where he worked in motor transport operations.
His parents are Thomas and Brenda-Walters Sanford. His grandfather served in the Navy and an uncle served in the Marines, both in World War II.
“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,” his father Thomas Sanford said after the shooting.
Military career
Thomas Jacob Sanford served in the U.S. Marines from 2004 to 2008, including a deployment to Iraq between 2007 and 2008. During his service, he earned several commendations, such as the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal. He was last posted with the 2nd Maintenance Battalion of Combat Logistics Regiment 25 at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.
Sanford joined the Marine Corps in 2004 and held the titles of organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator and in 2007, he started a nearly seven-month deployment under Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Sanford achieved the rank of sergeant before he left the Marines in June 2008.
Sanford graduated in 2003 from Goodrich High School, about 12 miles east of the shooting site.
Wife and children
Thomas Jacob Sanford was married and had one child, who, according to a social media post, suffered from a rare genetic disorder.
Tella Sanford is the wife of the late Thomas Jacob Sanford, who is the main suspect in the Grand Blanc, Michigan church shooting. Sanford has lived most of her life in Michigan, and although her exact age is not publicly disclosed, she is likely in her mid to late 30s while her husband Thomas was aged 40. She has a brother named Kevin Campbell.
Tella Sanford and Thomas dated for several years before getting married. At the time of their engagement, their son faced major surgery as a newborn, and their relationship became widely known after community members held a spaghetti supper fundraiser at The River Church in Goodrich to support Brantlee’s medical costs.
Thomas Jacob Sanford was from Burton, a city of 30,000 people, 6 miles from Grand Blanc Township.
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