Thomas Jacob Sanford, the suspected gunman accused of killing four people and injuring eight in a shooting at a Michigan church, referred to Mormons as “the Antichrist” just days before the attack.
City council candidate Kris Johns from nearby Burton, Michigan, said he met Sanford while campaigning, during which he expressed prejudice against the Mormon church. Sanford previously lived in Utah and had a relationship there — which ended painfully — with a Mormon woman, The New York Times reports.
“It kept going to, ‘They’re trying to put people above Jesus,’ and ‘They’re not Christians.’ He did make the statement that ‘Mormons are the Antichrist,’” Johns told The Detroit News.
Police say Sanford, a former Marine who was deployed to Iraq in 2007, rammed his truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, set fire to the building, and shot at worshippers. He died in a shootout with police.
His father has since told The Detroit Free Press: “I feel terrible about all the families that have been hurt, and they’re under the same crap that I’m going under, that my wife and I are going under. I apologize for that.”
Read More
Michigan church shooting latest: Key points
- Michigan Mormon church shooting: What we know so far
- Suspect Thomas Sanford hated Mormons because they ‘believe they’re above Jesus’
- Police give status update on victims injured in church attack
- "Yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America": Trump
Jon Stewart rips into ‘narcissistic media’ over response to mass shootings after Michigan tragedy
14:55
,
Katie Hawkinson
Jon Stewart lashed out against the media’s “left-right blame game” as he discussed the deadly Michigan church shooting on Monday’s episode of The Daily Show.
Owen Scott has the story:
ICYMI: Officials praised 'heroes' at the scene of the Michigan church shooting
14:41
,
Katie Hawkinson
Law enforcement officials praised the “heroes” who sprang into action when gunfire broke out at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
“I will tell you that there are noble heroes who do not wear a uniform that went to that church [on Sunday],” Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said at a press conference on Monday.
“I will tell you this: those heroes from that church did their job,” he added.
It has since been revealed that two fourth-year emergency residents at the nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital were present at the church and helped others in the midst of the attack, despite being victims themselves.
A GoFundMe page identified them as Jared Hicken and S Bridger Hampton.
“Not only were they victims, but they also sprang into action, helping others amidst danger, smoke, and confusion,” the page reads.
What do we know about Sanford's former relationship with a Mormon woman?
14:22
,
Katie Hawkinson
Thomas Jacob Sanford previously lived in Utah and dated a woman there who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The New York Times reports.
They fell in love, but the relationship ended painfully, according to the outlet.
When Sanford returned to Michigan after the relationship, he was “in rough shape,” his friend, Peter Tersigni, told the Times.
Sandra Winter, who rented a room to Sanford in Utah, also told the Times that he had dated an “extremely religious” woman and that he felt pressure to join the church.
“He wasn’t so sure that he wanted to become a member of the church,” she said. “But he really wanted to be with this woman.”
Police have yet to confirm Sanford’s motive. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told FOX & Friends on Monday that investigators believe Sanford “hated people of the Mormon faith.”
Sanford was a heavy meth user, friends say
14:05
,
Paul Farrell
A long-time friend of Sanford’s, Peter Tersigni, told The New York Times that the gunman’s time in the military changed him.
After leaving the Marines, Sanford went to live in Jeremy’s Ranch, Utah, where he became romantically involved with a woman who was a devout follower of the Mormon church.
The Times reports that during these times, the gunman became a heavy user of methamphetamine.
Tersigni said that his relationship ended “painfully.”
Tersigni’s brother, Francis, said that the gunman would talk endlessly about Mormons.
“He got this whole fascination with Mormons, and they are the Antichrist, and they are going to take over the world. All he could talk about was Mormons. I was like, dude, nobody wants to hear about this stuff,” Francis Tersigni said.
Two of those who were wounded aspiring doctors who sprang into action to help the injured
13:34
,
Paul Farrell
Two of those wounded in Sunday’s attack are aspiring doctors Jared Hicken and S Bridger Hampton.
Both are fourth-year emergency residents at Henry Ford Genesys in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
A GoFundMe page set up for the pair has raised over $50,000.
“Not only were they victims, but they also sprang into action, helping others amidst danger, smoke, and confusion,” the page reads.
‘All about his family’: Stunned ice fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
13:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
One former acquaintance of Thomas Jacob Sanford called him a “good guy,” saying she and her husband, who worked with him, were “shocked” to hear his name read out on the news.
Here’s Justin Rohrlich’s exclusive reporting on the shocked reaction to Sunday’s events from the suspect’s friends and neighbors.
The first victim has been named as Navy veteran John Bond
13:08
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Paul Farrell
John Bond, a U.S. Navy veteran, a beloved father and grandfather, was identified by his family as having died during the attack, according to an ABC News report.
His family said that Bond was a “well-known and loved member of his family and active in his community.”
His passions in life were his family, grandkids, golf, and trains.
According to a GoFundMe page that his loved ones have set up, he is survived by his wife, Joanne. At the time of writing, the page has raised over $11,000.
Alleged mom of Michigan church shooter made eerie Facebook post days before attack
12:41
,
Joe Sommerlad
Two days before Sunday’s massacre, the mother of suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford made a cryptic post on Facebook about someone in her life who refused to take “accountability” and who always “twists everything.”
That’s according to reports from The New York Post and The Daily Mail, which identified the now-deleted Facebook profile as belonging to Sanford’s mother Brenda.
It’s not clear who her post was referring to and the words were not originally hers. Instead, they seem to have been part of a copy-pasted meme that has been circulating on social media since at least August.
Io Dodds has the story.
Gabrielle Giffords responds to Michigan shooting
12:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
Former congresswoman and gun violence prevention activist Gabrielle Giffords called yesterday’s shooting “devastating” in a statement on X.
“Families deserve safety wherever they are, but being targeted while practicing one’s faith is especially horrific,” Giffords said.
“We know that more can be done to save lives and prevent targeted violence. Our leaders, on both sides of the aisle, must act now, before yet another community is altered forever by a horrific mass shooting.”
Today’s news of a shooting in Grand Blanc, Michigan attacking the Latter-day Saints community during worship is devastating. Families deserve safety wherever they are, but being targeted while practicing one’s faith is especially horrific.
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) September 28, 2025
We know that more can be done to save…
The ex-lawmaker founded GIFFORDS, a gun violence prevention organization, in 2013 after she was shot in the head two years prior at a constituent event in Tucson, Arizona.
Man in custody after he drove through barricade near church, police said
11:40
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Joe Sommerlad
A 21-year-old man is in custody after he drove through a barricade near the scene of the shooting on Monday afternoon, police said.
Police say a 21-year-old man was taken into custody this morning after he drove past a barricade near the Grand Blanc Township church where a mass shooting and fire happened. https://t.co/g1XPeQ32MJ pic.twitter.com/BzKoMOPAUM
— WXYZ Detroit (@wxyzdetroit) September 29, 2025
Recap: Doctors provide status update on Michigan church shooting victims
11:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
Hospital officials provided an update yesterday afternoon on the eight people, ages six to 78, they treated in the wake of the Michigan church shooting.
Five of the victims were treated for gunshot wounds, while the other three were treated for smoke inhalation. Here’s what we know currently about the victims’ status:
- One patient died in the emergency department.
- Doctors stabilized a child before transferring them to another hospital.
- One smoke inhalation patient remains intubated, while the other two have been discharged.
- One victim is in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
- One victim who was shot in the abdomen is in “critical condition, still, mostly stable,” according to officials.
- One man was brought in with a gunshot to the leg.
Watch more updates from law enforcement below:
Suspected shooter's previous arrests
10:40
,
Rachel Dobkin
Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man accused of opening fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, Sunday morning, and then setting the church on fire, had previously been in trouble with law enforcement.
Sanford had been arrested for burglary and operating a vehicle while intoxicated in the past, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said Monday, according to multiple reports.
Marine Corps release Sanford’s service record, revealing multiple medals
10:10
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Joe Sommerlad
The U.S. Marine Corps has released the service record of Thomas Jacob Sanford, confirming that he served a four-year enlistment from June 2004 to June 2008 as an organizational automotive mechanic and a vehicle recovery operator.
He deployed to Iraq from August 2007 to March 2008 and his military awards included the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.
Sanford left the Marine Corps as a sergeant and his final duty assignment was with the 2nd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, 2nd Marine Logistics Group at Camp Lejeune.
Jon Stewart reacts to Michigan church shooting
09:40
,
Joe Sommerlad
The Daily Show host used his monologue on Monday night to decry the “orgy of mass shootings” that took place over the weekend – the Michigan shooting just one of six, including others in North Carolina, Louisiana and Texas – and President Donald Trump’s response: sending troops into Portland, Oregon.
Stewart also took the media to task over its coverage of the killings, politicians (like Whitmer) who blame “rhetoric” while failing to find meaningful solutions and a “psychotic” internet culture that no longer permits coherent political disagreement.
What "war" in Portland is Trump talking about? The battle of mellow artisans? pic.twitter.com/fugsNYuNiP
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) September 30, 2025
Michigan governor urges public to tone down political rhetoric in wake of shooting
09:10
,
Joe Sommerlad
At a press conference Monday, Gretchen Whitmer said Sunday’s atrocity at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc provided further evidence, if any were needed, of why it is so important to “lower the temperature of rhetoric” on contentious issues.
“While the good men and women who are working hard are doing so with due diligence at this juncture, speculation is unhelpful, and it can be downright dangerous,” Whitmer said.
The governor has ordered flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff and said she had spoken with President Donald Trump, who extended his condolences.
“Your grief is our grief,” she told the church and its followers.
I know that this community is hurting right now and I want you to know that Michiganders across the state have your back.⁰⁰We believe that everyone deserves the freedom to pray, go to school, or take a walk on their block in peace, no matter who they are.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) September 29, 2025
Suspect hated Mormons because they ‘believe they’re above Jesus’
08:40
,
Joe Sommerlad
Kris Johns, who is running for city council in Burton, Michigan, has told CBS News that he met Sanford at his house last week while out campaigning.
He said Sanford revealed a resentment of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints church because its followers “believe they’re above Jesus.”
Johns added that the same man told him he moved to Utah for a fresh start to plow snow and that, while he was there, he started a relationship with a Mormon woman but took exception to her church’s rules, saying: “They wanted me to get rid of my tattoos. They wanted me to do all this stuff, and I wouldn’t do it.”
Johns said they otherwise did not talk politics: “He said nothing about Charlie Kirk, nothing about our current president or past president. He asked me about guns. I said I support the Second Amendment. We ended the conversation very positively.”
Johns, who said he has given a statement to the FBI and state police since Sunday’s events unfolded, also said that Sanford had told him that he had issues with drugs since his return from overseas deployment with the Marines.
His insights tally with what White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox and Friends Monday about the suspect’s motivations:
Local pastor calls Michigan church shooting 'surreal'
08:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Pastor Jerome Taylor has said the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township Sunday was “surreal.”
Taylor is a pastor at the Eastgate Baptist Church, next door to where shooting suspect Thomas Jacob Sanford lived in Burton.
"It's certainly surreal and unexpected," Taylor told the Detroit Free Press. “Many of our church members asked the same question, 'How could this happen with one of the members of our neighborhood?' [But] Mr. Sanford had very little affiliation with our church aside from sharing a property line."
LDS leaders from across the country are helping 'traumatized' Michigan members
07:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from across the country are helping “traumatized” members after a gunman opened fire on the Church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday.
"Members of our local congregation and members of the church and leaders of the church from other parts of the country are here and seeking to help," Greg Geiger, director of communications for the metro Detroit region of the Church, told the Detroit Free Press Monday.
Geiger continued: "We're at this moment, meeting with our senior leaders to talk about the needs of the individual members of our congregation, who of course, are traumatized, physically, emotionally, in every other way.
“So our focus at the moment really is on how can we help, help the survivors and all those impacted ... to make it through and to begin to deal with the feelings that they have."
In pictures: Church burned down after Michigan shooting
06:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
On Sunday, a gunman opened fire on worshippers at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, before setting the place on fire.
Five people died, including suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, and eight more were injured.
Here are some photos of the damage to the church:
Michigan AG says Michigan church shooting has 'all the hallmarks of a hate crime'
06:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel told CNN Monday night the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday has “all the hallmarks of a hate crime.”
“We've done a lot in our state to try to combat this sort of extremism. We have passed a new hate crimes law, a new, institutional desecration law, and we also have extreme risk protection orders, which are red flag laws,” Nessel told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
Senator says police need 'a minute' to find Michigan church shooter's motive
05:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, told CNN Monday night police need “a minute” to find the motive behind Thomas Jacob Sanford, who has been accused of opening fire on worshippers at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday.
When asked how close law enforcement was to determining a motive for the shooting, Slotkin said, “They're doing their jobs, which takes time. But that's exploiting equipment from the shooter. That means interviewing a ton of witnesses, but also family members and friends.”
She continued: “We just ask people to let law enforcement do their job. They came to protect us and they're gonna do that. They just gotta have a minute. “
"Unimaginable terror:" @SenatorSlotkin reacts to the deadly attack on a Michigan church one town over from her own home. "It's hard to take in," she adds. pic.twitter.com/nLL8hh4Qv5
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) September 30, 2025
Man who attacked Michigan church became 'unhinged' when talking about Mormon faith
05:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
The man who shot up a Michigan church and set a fire that killed four people was a former U.S. Marine who expressed animosity about the Mormon faith to a city council candidate knocking on doors just days before the attack.
Thomas Sanford, who was known as Jake, drove a pickup truck with a deer skull and antlers strapped to the front and two large American flags flapping in the wind in the bed, according to friends and social media posts.
Sanford, 40, smashed that truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township, according to authorities. He was killed by police officers who rushed to the scene Sunday, 60 miles northwest of Detroit. The building was destroyed.
Kris Johns, a council candidate in Burton, said he met Sanford while introducing himself to voters last week. He told MLive.com that Sanford was pleasant but became “unhinged” when he suddenly began talking about the Mormon church, as it is widely known.
Read more from Ed White:
Watch: Police provide update on Michigan church shooting
04:45
,
Rachel Dobkin
People who knew Michigan church shooting suspect said he seemed 'normal' and 'like a nice guy'
04:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
People who knew Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man accused of opening fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday, said he seemed “normal” and “like a nice guy.”
“He was happy to see me. He just seemed normal,” Ryan Lopez, Sanford’s former high school classmate who last saw the suspected shooter at a gym a few weeks ago, told The New York Times.
Randy Thronson, Sanford’s neighbor, told the NYT he hadn’t talked to the suspected shooter in roughly two years, but he “seemed like a nice guy.”
“Something must have happened, snapped somehow,” he said.
‘All about his family’: Stunned ice fishing buddies of Michigan church shooter left in disbelief
03:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
After Thomas Jacob Sanford rammed his pickup into the front doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, he allegedly aimed an assault-style rifle at the worshippers inside, killing four people and wounding eight others.
A Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, Sanford, 40, then set fire to the structure, according to authorities. As terrified parishioners tried to escape the blaze, Sanford was killed at the scene by police.
Retiree Lori Farmer, who lives nearby with husband Ron, told The Independent that she was “shocked” when she heard Sanford identified as the shooter. Farmer and her husband, who worked with Sanford, are “still reeling,” she said.
“He was a good guy,” Farmer said. “All about his family.”
Sanford, who met her husband while driving a truck for Coca-Cola, had gone ice fishing with the couple, and once helped them remove a big spruce tree from their property, according to Farmer. Sanford and his wife, who was part of the LDS church, had a son with special needs; Sanford reportedly had gotten his tattoos removed so he could participate in LDS ceremonies.
Read more from Justin Rohrlich:
Michigan lawmakers send bipartisan message about the shooting: 'Don't believe every theory you read on social media'
03:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, and Republican state Representative Mike Mueller came together to share a message in the wake of Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township.
“Take a breath. Don't believe every theory you read on social media,” Slotkin said.
Mueller added, “Wait for the FBI to do their investigation. They’ll find the motive, and let’s heal as a community.”
Take a breath. Don't believe every theory you read on social media. What the Grand Blanc community needs more than anything is for all of us to rise above.
— Sen. Elissa Slotkin (@SenatorSlotkin) September 29, 2025
That's the message state Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Linden) and I wanted to convey today when we visited with local leaders. pic.twitter.com/1KXmvubkp2
Michigan church shooting: What we know so far
02:39
,
Rachel Dobkin
- Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, is accused of ramming his pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, Sunday morning and then opening fire at hundreds of worshippers before setting the place on fire.
- Five people died, including Sanford, and eight more were injured in the attack, according to authorities. Police say they killed the suspected shooter in a parking lot behind the church.
- Sanford’s father, Thomas Sanford, told the Detroit Free Press, "I feel terrible about all the families that have been hurt and they're under the same crap that I'm going under, that my wife and I are going under.”
- City council candidate Kris Johns in nearby Burton, said the suspected shooter described the church’s members as “the antichrist” when they spoke last week, the Detroit Free Press reports.
- A motive for the shooting has yet to be made public.
Michigan governor says 'everyone deserves the freedom to pray' after Grand Blanc meeting
02:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has said “everyone deserves the freedom to pray” after meeting with officials in Grand Blanc Township, following Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I met with first responders and local officials in Grand Blanc today after yesterday's horrific attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
— Governor Gretchen Whitmer (@GovWhitmer) September 29, 2025
We are grateful for the actions of a local police officer and conservation officer whose bravery saved lives. pic.twitter.com/fi5eRuQIvd
Senator says Michigan church 'burnt down to the bricks'
02:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Senator Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat who visited the site of Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, said the Church was “burnt down to the bricks.”
Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, is accused of ramming his pickup truck into the front doors of the church and opening dire on worshippers inside before setting fire to the structure.
Police killed Sanford in a parking lot behind the church. At least four people were killed and eight were injured in the attack.
Slotkin said on CNN Monday night, “The church is basically gone...It’s just burnt down to the bricks.”
“The unimaginable terror that went on in that place of worship during a church service, it’s just hard to take in,” the senator added.
Alleged mom of Michigan church shooter posted eerie message days before attack criticizing person ‘avoiding accountability’
01:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
Two days before the massacre at a Mormon church in Michigan, the mother of suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford made a cryptic post on Facebook about someone in her life who refused to take "accountability" and who always "twists everything.”
That is according to reports from The New York Post and The Daily Mail, which identified the now-deleted Facebook profile as belonging to Sanford's mother, Brenda.
It's not clear who her post was referring to, and the words were not originally hers. Instead, they seem to have been part of a copy-pasted meme that has been circulating on social media since at least August.
Police have named Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, as the man who killed four people and injured at least eight others in an attack on a Mormon Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan on Sunday morning.
"People lack accountability, then say, 'you could’ve talked to me.' No, I couldn’t. Because talking to you isn’t really a conversation," the post read in part.
Read more from Io Dodds:
In pictures: Michigan residents hold prayer vigil following shooting
01:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
What do we know about the suspected gunman's military service?
Tuesday 30 September 2025 00:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
Suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford served as a U.S. Marine from 2004 to 2008, and was deployed to Iraq in 2007.
His father told the Detroit Free Press that he “loved the United States.”
"He came back. I'm glad he came back in one piece," Sanford’s father said. "He was in logistics. He drove a wrecker and went out and picked up vehicles. One time, he was under fire but most of the time he was fine."
ICYMI: ATF brings in National Response Team
Tuesday 30 September 2025 00:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has brought in its National Response Team to investigate Sunday’s shooting, law enforcement officials said at a Monday afternoon press conference.
“This is a cadre of world-renowned investigators for arson and explosive incidents,” ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir said. “They have been used all over the world, and they come from places as far as California, Hawaii, and they're here in Michigan now.”
The suspected shooter set fire to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday. Officials said investigators also recovered improvised explosive devices.
ICYMI: Doctors provide status update on Michigan church shooting victims
Monday 29 September 2025 23:30
,
Katie Hawkinson
Hospital officials provided an update on the eight people, ages 6 to 78, they treated in the wake of the Michigan church shooting.
Five of the victims were treated for gunshot wounds, while the other three were treated for smoke inhalation. Here’s what we know about the victims’ status, according to a statement from hospital officials on Monday afternoon:
- One patient died in the emergency department.
- Doctors stabilized a child before transferring them to another hospital.
- One smoke inhalation patient remains intubated, while the other two have been discharged.
- One victim is in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and abdomen.
- One victim who was shot in the abdomen is in “critical condition, still, mostly stable,” according to officials.
- One man was brought in with a gunshot to the leg.
Watch more updates from law enforcement below:
Read Trump's full comments on the Michigan church shooting
Monday 29 September 2025 23:00
,
Katie Hawkinson
President Donald Trump issued a statement on Sunday afternoon, decrying the shooting at a Michigan church that left four people dead and eight injured.
