A Michigan man accused of opening fire on more than 100 worshippers at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and then setting the building ablaze was a former Marine.
Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, lived approximately six miles from the Grand Blanc Township church where the attack occurred on Sunday, Sept. 28, leaving four people dead and eight others injured. Sanford was later killed in a gunfight with police.
Authorities continue to investigate Sanford’s motive. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told FOX News’ FOX & Friends on Monday that Sanford was “an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith,” CNN reported.
“The FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman confirmed following the attack, according to NBC News.
Police allege that around 10:25 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, Sanford drove into the church with two American flags mounted on the bed of his silver pickup truck, exited the vehicle, and opened fire on parishioners with an assault rifle, per KUTV.
During the attack, officials said Sanford is also suspected of using gasoline to start the blaze. Parishioner Brian Taylor told FOX 2 that “None of us recognized this guy. He came [inside] in camo pants and [with] an assault rifle.”
Sanford joined the Marine Corps in 2004, a year after graduating high school, according to the Clarkston News. He was deployed to Iraq in 2007.
“I’m excited to go,” Sanford told the Clarkston News at the time. “I’m looking forward to seeing the culture and the people of Iraq. I’ll return with the real news of the situation. There are many changes we are making in the Middle East. We are making progress. The citizens of Iraq are beginning to step up.”
A Marine Corps spokesperson confirmed that Sanford served in Operation Iraqi Freedom from August 2007 to March 2008. During his service, he worked as an organizational automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator. He left the Marines in 2008 with the rank of sergeant, with his last duty assignment at Camp Lejeune, N.C.
Sanford received multiple honors during his service, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
At the time of the attack, Sanford was married and had a 10-year-old son, born in 2015, who reportedly has a rare genetic disorder, CNN reported. A since-deleted family Facebook page revealed that the child was diagnosed with Congenital Hyperinsulinism, requiring extended hospital stays and multiple pancreatic surgeries.
A GoFundMe page was established to help cover the medical costs for Sanford’s son.
