Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old U.S. Marine veteran from Burton, Michigan, is allegedly behind a deadly attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Grand Blanc Township. On Sunday, Sanford drove his truck through the church’s front entrance, opened fire and set the building on fire.
Details of the attack have captured national attention, but officials said speculation will only fuel harmful rhetoric in this situation. They called on the public to lower the temperature as the investigation continues.
“These are places that we go to feel connected, to feel safe, to be together. But today, this place has been shattered by bullets and broken glass, and this might be a familiar pain, but it hurts all the same every time,” Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Sunday. “We cannot keep living our lives like this. I know that this community is reeling right now, and I want you to know that the state of Michigan has your back.”
At least four people were killed and eight others injured during an attack at a church in the Flint, Michigan, suburb, where hundreds of congregants were gathered. Local police arrived at the scene and fatally shot Sanford after he opened fire on officers in the church parking lot.
FBI investigates attack as targeted violence
In a press conference Monday, Ruben Coleman, the FBI Detroit acting special agent in charge who represents the entire state of Michigan, said the bureau is investigating the attack as an act of targeted violence while authorities work to determine a motive. Since the incident, investigators have interviewed more than 100 victims and witnesses, collected and processed evidence, and engaged behavioral specialists.
Coleman said the attack is considered “targeted” in the sense that it occurred within the state and community, not against a specific person or the church itself. He added that the FBI will not classify the incident as terrorism unless evidence supports that designation.
The FBI is leading the investigation in coordination with the Michigan State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Grand Blanc Township Police and other local agencies. Authorities have deployed bomb squads and K9 units to check for additional hazards.
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As of September 2025, the U.S. saw more than 320 mass shootings, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
Jim Deir of the ATF, which oversees Michigan, said the agency has brought in its National Response Team, specializing in arson and explosives, to assist in examining the scene. Deir advised the public to avoid the area, which remains secured, as investigators assess improvised explosives recovered during the investigation and determine whether they were used.
Michigan State Police Chief James Grady urged residents to remain vigilant, noting that more than half of those who carry out mass attacks leave warning signs and that two-thirds of people display concerning behavior that can be observed before an attack.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye described the attack as an “evil act of violence,” but emphasized that it does not define the community or what it stands for. Authorities confirmed that everyone in the church had been accounted for.
Medical teams treat victims
Medical teams from Henry Ford Genesis Hospital treated eight patients, ranging in age from 6 to 78. According to the medical chief of state, Dr. Michael Danic, five patients suffered gunshot wounds, and three were treated for smoke inhalation.
Several patients were in critical condition, including one with multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen. A child was stabilized after an arm injury and transferred to another hospital. One victim died in the emergency room, and another was treated for a gunshot to the leg.
Danic noted that congregants and responders risked their own safety to rescue people from the burning church, going in and out of the flames to help others escape.
Sanford’s personal and family life
Sanford graduated from Goodrich High School in 2003 and lived roughly eight miles from Grand Blanc, Michigan, about a 15-minute drive from the church.
Sanford, also known as Jake, was featured in Clarkston News, which described his military career as “stellar.” He reportedly earned the rank of sergeant and received honors on the rifle range. He reportedly served in Japan and Iraq.
After completing his service in 2008, Sanford transitioned to civilian work, including a period at a Coca-Cola facility, though his role is not publicly known. Outside of work, he appears to have spent time pursuing outdoor activities such as hunting and ice fishing, based on photos shared by family members.
Local police said Sanford had prior arrests, including for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and burglary.
Sanford and his wife, Tella, faced ongoing medical challenges with their son, Brantlee, who was born with hyperinsulinism, a rare condition affecting insulin levels and posing neurological risks, according to multiple Facebook pages. The family sought care at Cook Children’s Hospital in Texas, one of the few specialized centers in the nation for the condition.
Kris Johns, a Burton City Council candidate, said he spoke to Sanford when canvassing in his neighborhood. He told the Detroit Free Press that Sanford shared animosity toward the LDS church, but his comments didn’t strike him as violent. Johns said he referred to Mormons as “the antichrist,” but still, in their conversation, he was polite and “extremely friendly.”
Information about Sanford’s political beliefs remains limited. Public records confirm he is registered to vote in the city, though there is no record of recent voting activity. Social media images show him wearing a camouflage Trump 2020 shirt, and a Trump-Pence yard sign was visible at his Burton home in mid-2025.
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