At least four people were killed and several more injured when 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford carried out a deadly mass shooting at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on Sunday morning.
Sanford, who had a military background and once served in Iraq, drove his truck into the church before opening fire on worshippers.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Sanford used an assault rifle to shoot at hundreds of people inside the building and later set parts of the church on fire with a flammable liquid.
James Deir, the ATF’s Detroit field division chief, confirmed these details at a press briefing.
Police said Sanford was killed in a gun battle with officers behind the church. The FBI has taken over the investigation and is treating the incident as a targeted act of violence.
Sanford grew up in Burton, Michigan, a city of about 30,000 residents located only 9.6km from Grand Blanc Township, where the attack took place.
Records show he enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 2004. He trained and worked as an automotive mechanic and a vehicle recovery operator.
By 2007, Sanford had deployed to Iraq for nearly seven months as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He left the Marine Corps the following year with the rank of sergeant.
Investigators are still working to understand Sanford’s motives. Reuben Coleman, the FBI’s special agent in charge in Detroit, told reporters the agency is reviewing his background, social media, and personal history for possible clues.
“The FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence,” Coleman said.
Authorities also noted Sanford’s online activity, which included posts showing him wearing a “Trump 2020” T-shirt.
While this does not directly link his political views to the shooting, investigators are examining whether his beliefs or experiences after leaving the military played any role in Sunday’s events.
The violence unfolded just after worshippers had gathered for Sunday services. Police said Sanford rammed his vehicle into the church before stepping out with his weapon.
At least four people were killed, two of them from gunfire. Eight others were injured, and authorities believe more victims could be found as searches continue. Seven people remain unaccounted for.
Sanford’s case has drawn comparisons to another shooting involving a Marine veteran over the same weekend.
In North Carolina, former Marine Nigel Edge allegedly fired shots at a waterfront bar on Saturday night, killing three people. Unlike Sanford, Edge was arrested at the scene.
Investigators in Michigan continue piecing together Sanford’s profile, looking at his military service, personal life in Burton, and possible grievances.
Officials have not yet provided a timeline for when more details about his motive will be released.
