A 40-year-old Marine veteran from Michigan has been identified as the suspect in a deadly mass shooting at an LDS church in Grand Blanc. Thomas Jacob Sanford was known for his distinctive pickup truck, which often flew two American flags behind him. However, in recent weeks, locals reported that he had changed his behavior, asking questions about guns and making inflammatory statements about the Mormon faith.
Sanford’s friends and acquaintances are trying to piece together how he went from being a respected member of the community to the suspect in a mass shooting. Some who knew him described him as a “fun-loving family guy” but also someone with unkind feelings towards certain groups.
The attack on Sunday morning left at least four people dead and eight injured, with Sanford dying during an exchange of gunfire with police. Authorities have not identified a motive for the attack, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described him as “an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith.”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/28/us/thomas-sanford-michigan-shooting-suspect