Who is Thomas Jacob Sanford? What to know about Michigan church shooting suspect

Michigan police have named 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton as the man accused of killing two people and injuring eight others during a violent attack at a church service in Grand Blanc on Sunday.

According to investigators, Sanford drove a pickup truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around 10:25 a.m. before opening fire with an assault rifle on worshippers gathered inside. Hundreds of congregants were in attendance at the time.

Police confirmed at an evening press briefing on September 28 that one of the injured victims remains in critical condition, while seven others are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Emergency crews also responded to a fire that broke out at the church following the assault. Officials said the blaze is now under control, but urged the public to stay clear of the scene while response operations continue.

An active shooting-terror attack just took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

The terrorist rammed his truck through the front of the large church, then began shooting attendees and set the church on fire..

I would given it a 98%… pic.twitter.com/qIuLmAhCd5

— Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) September 28, 2025

Sanford’s hometown of Burton is located just eight miles north of Grand Blanc, a Flint suburb where the tragedy occurred. Authorities emphasized that the shooter is no longer a threat to the community.

This remains a developing story as investigators work to piece together a motive for the deadly attack.

I leave Mass hearing about the shooting and arson attack at the Church in Michigan.

To all Christians everywhere:

If 95% of the men in your church are not carrying, you must fix that.

Christianity is being attacked.

Be prepared to defend yourself, family, and community. pic.twitter.com/ApRrCVchaF

— Walter Curt (@WCdispatch_) September 28, 2025

"I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation… " – President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/j8DOXGsTac

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 28, 2025

We haven't even finished processing the shooting last night in NC, there's already ANOTHER shooting at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

Rammed his truck into the church.
Then fired his AR-15 at churchgoers.
This is a disgusting sickness.

This is trump's America. pic.twitter.com/VFrKFVHyd6

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) September 28, 2025

"Second counselor exchanged fire with him but he might be critically injured." – a witness testimony for the Grand Blanc mass shooting in Michigan.

Suspect identified as a 40yr old male from Burton.

Michigan Mormon church set ablaze after active shooter, multiple victims… pic.twitter.com/GxrjGPdcIJ

— Digital Gal 🇺🇸 (@DigitalGal_X) September 28, 2025

Who Was Thomas Jacob Sanford? Inside the Profile of the Michigan Church Shooting Suspect

The quiet Michigan suburb of Grand Blanc was thrown into chaos on Sunday after a shocking attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints left two people dead and several others wounded. The alleged assailant has since been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old Iraq War veteran from Burton, whose troubled story is now coming into sharper focus.

Witnesses say Sanford rammed his pickup truck — bearing a license plate inscribed with the word “Iraq” — into the church before emerging with an assault rifle and opening fire on parishioners. For a community unaccustomed to such violence, the incident felt surreal; yet for investigators, the puzzle pieces of Sanford’s life are now being scrutinized for clues to his motive.

A Veteran’s Story

Sanford is reported to have served with the U.S. Marines during the Iraq War between 2004 and 2008. Online records and archived social media posts connected to his mother suggest his years in uniform shaped much of his early adulthood. Yet, like many veterans, the return to civilian life was not without challenges.

A Family Man Behind the Headlines

Beyond the violence that ended his life, Sanford’s digital trail also reveals the portrait of a father and husband. He reportedly had a young son, now around ten years old, who was born with a rare condition known as congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) — a genetic disorder causing dangerously high insulin levels. Back in 2015, Sanford and his family had set up a GoFundMe campaign to help with the boy’s medical expenses. That glimpse of a family in need now stands in stark contrast to the tragedy that has followed.

The Vanishing Social Media Footprint

In the aftermath of the shooting, Sanford’s alleged Facebook profile briefly surfaced online before appearing to vanish. Screenshots shared by X (formerly Twitter) users suggest that his account, along with personal photos, may have been scrubbed or deactivated. This has only fueled speculation and confusion, as investigators search for evidence of his state of mind leading up to the attack.

A Scene of Fire and Chaos

Authorities disclosed that three improvised devices were discovered at the crime scene, though it remains unclear whether they were intended as explosives or incendiary tools. A fire, combined with the wreckage from the truck, further complicated initial rescue and investigative efforts. With so much destruction in the sanctuary, forensic teams face a painstaking process of piecing together the chain of events.

Unanswered Questions About Motive

Perhaps the most haunting question remains: why? Reports suggest investigators are examining every possible angle, including whether the timing of the attack was connected to the recent death of a prominent Mormon church leader just one day earlier. For now, authorities have released no official conclusion about what may have driven Sanford to turn a place of worship into a scene of horror.

The portrait of Thomas Jacob Sanford is one of contrasts — a veteran and father whose past contained signs of hardship and struggle, yet who unleashed an act of devastating violence on a Sunday morning congregation. As Grand Blanc mourns its dead and comforts its wounded, the mystery of Sanford’s motive looms large, a reminder of how fragile the boundary can be between ordinary lives and extraordinary tragedy.

FAQ Section

Who was identified as the suspect in the Michigan church attack?
Authorities named 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, as the suspect in the Grand Blanc church assault.

How many victims were affected by the Grand Blanc church shooting?
Two people were killed and eight others were injured. One victim remains in critical condition while seven are stable.

What happened at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc?
Police say the suspect rammed a pickup truck into the church, set off a fire, and opened fire with an assault rifle on worshippers.

Is there still a threat to the public?
No. Authorities confirmed that the suspect is down and there is no ongoing danger to the community.

Where is Grand Blanc located?
Grand Blanc is a suburb of Flint, Michigan, about eight miles south of Burton, where the suspect lived.