News & Current Events
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named As Suspect In LDS Church Shooting And Fire In Michigan – Details Emerge
Fires broke out and a church in Michigan caught fire, shattering a calm Sunday morning in a matter of seconds. The perpetrator of the crime has now been identified by officials as a combat veteran with a horrible past.
The unimaginable occurred on September 28, 2025, while the members of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, were gathered in prayer.
In what authorities claim was a “deliberately” carried out attack, a shooter unexpectedly entered the hallowed area, opened fire, and set the building on fire.
Shortly after the nightmare started, police shot and killed the suspect, who is now known to be 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former U.S. Marine from neighboring Burton. The deaths, injuries, and unaccounted-for number of persons were confirmed by authorities.
A Church Service Turns to Chaos
During the service, Thomas crashed through the front doors of the church while driving a four-door pickup truck and flying two American flags, according to the police. Shortly after, he got out of the car and started shooting at the frightened throng.
William Renye, the chief of police in Grand Blanc Township, said that hundreds of people were inside the building when the gunfire began. Within 30 seconds of the 911 call, officers arrived on the scene.
Eight minutes later, the guy was shot dead by two officers who confronted him outside the church. However, it was too late because the chapel was already on fire. As firemen fought the fire for hours, heavy black smoke and flames billowed.
ATF Confirmed Gasoline Was Used as Suspicious Devices Were Found
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) later confirmed that gasoline was used as an accelerant. “I will confirm that there were some suspected explosive devices that were located,” James Deir, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Detroit Field Division, further revealed.
“But as far as using them to initiate the blaze, we can’t say that,” he continued. Although authorities have not yet disclosed a motive, the finding of these devices further increased suspicions that the slaughter had been carefully planned.
A Growing Death Toll and More Still Missing
Four people had been reported dead by Sunday evening. Seven of the injured were listed as stable, and one was still in serious condition. Amidst the burned remains of the church, two bodies were discovered. However, it can take days to determine the actual number of victims.
Earlier in the day, Chief William cautioned that more victims would likely be uncovered once crews could safely sift through the debris. “We do know that there are some unaccounted for,” he later told reporters.
Because of the low visibility and potential safety hazards, that search was stopped around dusk. According to a law enforcement source who spoke to CNN, up to seven persons were still unaccounted for, however some might not have gotten in touch with their loved ones yet.
Who Was Thomas Jacob Sanford?
Between June 2004 and June 2008, Thomas served in the U.S. Marine Corps, eventually becoming a sergeant. He was sent to Iraq from August 2007 to March 2008 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a vehicle recovery operator and an organizational automotive mechanic.
It’s unclear if he was associated with the LDS Church. His personal past and potential motivations are being extensively investigated by authorities. Investigators are searching the Burton property for hints, and the street leading to his house has been blocked off.
A Child’s Suffering and a Family Under Pressure
A medical catastrophe concerning Thomas’s newborn son overshadowed his life in 2015. His kid, Brantlee Sanford, was diagnosed with congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare and hazardous condition that causes extremely high insulin levels and serious brain problems, according to local news.
At Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Brantlee was born six weeks early and needed a feeding tube, a ventilator, and round-the-clock care.
“It’s so tough watching this,” said Brantlee’s aunt, Katie Hamilton, at the time. “I get to see pictures and video, but I’ve never held him. It’s crazy.” Thomas — then identified by local media as Jake Sanford — took family medical leave from his job at Coca-Cola to care for his son.
Tella Campbell, his fiancée, was a stay-at-home mom. Later, the family visited Cook Children’s Medical Center in Texas, which is one of just two hospitals in the United States that specializes in the illness.
There, Brantlee received care from Dr. Thornton at the hospital’s Endocrine Diabetes Program and Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center. The experience has a financial cost. To endure the overwhelming weight, the family mostly relied on family and community assistance.
A Cryptic Post from the Gunman’s Mother
Just hours before the deadly attack, a now-deleted social media post appeared on the Facebook page of Thomas’s mother, Brenda Walters-Sanford. The post, which did not mention Thomas, featured the bold statement, “Life isn’t a FREE RIDE!! No matter what JOB you have!!!”
The remainder of the communication seemed to be a long repost about reforms that were being considered for government accountability and congressional benefits. The post was notable for its timing, even though its main content was political: it was made public on the day her son would carry out a terrible church attack.
Neighbors in Shock
The news was met with shock and bewilderment by the astonished residents of Thomas’s tranquil Burton neighborhood. Nearby war veteran Randy Thronson, 71, reported that he seldom ever saw police in the neighborhood.
He remembered that Thomas, who lived with his wife, at least one child, and perhaps his mother, was a good neighbor. “It’s really sad,” the neighbor of the alleged shooter stated. “He might have just snapped.”
Another neighbor, 44-year-old Mike Pate, echoed the disbelief. “[It’s] surreal, having stuff happen this close to us,” Mike shared. “When you see stuff on the news, it seems so far away.”
Unanswered Questions and a Community in Mourning
Investigators continue their laborious work, inspecting Thomas’s house, examining the evidence, and going through the debris as the burned church is still roped off.
No motive has been established yet. There is no written statement, manifesto, or official justification for the unimaginable acts of violence committed by a father who was a military hero.
Families are left to cling to hope—or drown in grief—as well as a devastated neighborhood and a sanctuary turned to smoking ruins.
The hunt for answers went on as daylight broke. However, there are already significant wounds in Grand Blanc Township, some of which might never fully heal.
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