On a quiet Sunday morning, as congregants gathered for worship at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, the unthinkable happened. At approximately 10:25 a.m. on September 28, 2025, Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old Marine Corps veteran, drove his silver GMC Sierra truck—adorned with two American flags—straight through the church’s front doors. What followed was a harrowing sequence of violence that left four people dead, eight others wounded, and an entire community reeling.
Sanford, who served four years in the Marines from 2004 to 2008—including a combat tour in Iraq—exited his vehicle and opened fire with an assault rifle on about 100 churchgoers inside. According to Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye, Sanford discharged "several rounds" before setting the building on fire. He was killed in a shootout with police, bringing the rampage to a grim end. As reported by ABC News, the victims ranged in age from just 6 years old to 78, with two remaining in critical condition and six others in stable condition at area hospitals.
The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of targeted violence. In a press conference on Monday, authorities confirmed that all individuals present during the attack had been accounted for. Over 100 victims and witnesses have already been interviewed as the investigation continues, with teams from the FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement combing through the wreckage for answers.
The question on everyone’s mind: why did Sanford, a father and decorated veteran, turn to such violence? While local authorities have yet to officially identify a motive, the White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, told Fox News that Sanford was "an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith." This view is echoed by those who knew him. Peter Tersigni, a childhood friend, told CNN that Sanford’s resentment toward the LDS church stemmed from a breakup with an LDS girlfriend more than a decade ago. "He had the need to express and let us know, hey, ‘Mormons are bad, Mormons are the antichrist,’" Tersigni recalled, adding that Sanford’s animosity often surfaced after drinking.
Sanford’s erratic behavior in the days leading up to the attack had not gone unnoticed. Kara Pattison, a longtime friend, told CNN affiliate WDIV that just two days prior, Sanford had sped his truck at her and her daughter, forcing them to jump back. "Then the window rolled down, and it was Jake," Pattison said. "He was laughing. He’s, like, ‘Oh, got you guys.’" She described this as out of character, noting that Sanford had "harbored unkind feelings toward certain groups" and "definitely talked about groups of people in ways that weren’t acceptable."
Sanford’s distinctive truck—sometimes flying a ‘F*** Biden’ flag in addition to the American flags—was well known in the local community. Jason Allen, a Burton resident, told CNN that "you couldn’t miss the truck" as Sanford drove it around town. A photo posted to Sanford’s mother’s Facebook account in October 2024 shows him standing in front of the same truck used in Sunday’s attack, which also bore an Iraq War veteran license plate.
Sanford’s military record, confirmed by both ABC News and CNN, indicates he served as a sergeant and specialized in handling military vehicle equipment and combat logistics. He was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2007 and 2008, serving as a technician and vehicle recovery operator. After returning from Iraq, he worked at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina before leaving the Marines in March 2008.
Despite his service, Sanford struggled with personal demons. Friends and acquaintances described a man who battled drug addiction and whose behavior had become increasingly unpredictable. Kris Johns, a Burton City Council candidate, recounted a recent conversation with Sanford in which he asked pointed questions about guns and the LDS church before launching into a tirade against the faith. "The last thing he said was that Mormons are the Antichrist," Johns told ABC News. Yet, Johns noted, Sanford did not voice any threats during their 15-to-20-minute discussion.
Sanford’s family life was also marked by hardship. He was married and the father of a son born with a rare genetic disorder called Congenital Hyperinsulinism, which required multiple surgeries and lengthy hospital stays. According to a family GoFundMe page and local news reports cited by CNN, Sanford once took leave from his job as a Coca-Cola truck driver to care for his son. "Don’t ever take having healthy kids for granted," Sanford was quoted as saying. "I spent four years in the Marine Corps and was in Iraq and this is still the most unique thing to deal with."
Authorities have not linked the attack to any broader political motives, despite Sanford’s visible display of political paraphernalia. Tersigni, his childhood friend, told CNN, "It’s not something larger scale, you know what I mean? This was just an individual that had a mental illness and had a breakdown."
In the aftermath, the community has rallied together. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer ordered U.S. and Michigan flags to be lowered to half-staff through Friday, October 3, 2025, in honor of the victims. Grand Blanc Community Schools closed their doors on Monday out of respect and caution. Law enforcement increased patrols at places of worship across the region, with Bloomfield Township Police stating they would "increase patrols around our places of worship and other community gatherings to help ensure a safe environment for everyone."
Local officials and first responders were praised for their quick action. Sheriff Christopher R. Swanson commended the "noble heroes who do not wear a uniform that went to that church yesterday," crediting church attendees for their immediate response during the chaos. Investigators have urged anyone with additional information to contact the FBI as the search for answers continues.
Sanford’s father, Tom, spoke briefly to Detroit’s WXYZ and CNN affiliate, expressing deep sorrow: "I feel so bad about the families that were affected by this, aside from ours. We’re not the only ones going through this devastation. We are beside ourselves."
As the Grand Blanc community grieves, the aftermath of this tragedy is a stark reminder of the unpredictable intersections of personal pain, mental health, and violence. The investigation presses on, but for those left behind, the scars of that Sunday morning will not soon fade.
