Thomas Jacob Sanford: 10 things to know about deadly Grand Blanc, Michigan church shooting

What began as a Sunday worship service at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned into tragedy when a man rammed a pickup truck into the sanctuary, opened fire with an assault-style rifle, and set the building ablaze. Authorities say the attack, carried out by 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, left two people dead and eight others wounded, sending shockwaves through this quiet Flint-area suburb. Here is what to know about the incident.

Mormon church shooting suspect: Per voting records, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob "Jake" Sanford of Burton, Michigan, lives at 4156 E Atherton Rd Burton, MI 48519. Online reports indicate police have surrounded that address. Voting info: "no known political party affiliation." pic.twitter.com/lrLT8IXoAB

— Aggressive Fruit (@aggressiveFRUIT) September 28, 2025

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1. Identity and hometown.
   Police have identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, who lived in Burton, Michigan, a neighboring community to Grand Blanc.

   
   
   

2. How the attack unfolded.
   Authorities say the incident began around 10:25 a.m. when a pickup truck was driven into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township; the suspect then exited the vehicle, fired on congregants and — according to police — set parts of the building on fire.

They will NEVER scare us away from worshipping our Lord. I took a photo with my wife and daughter at church today. A few minutes later I got a news alert of a shooting at a LDS church in Michigan. Evil is showing its face and we are not going to run. My daughter asked if we are… pic.twitter.com/ZPPezGaJ6P

— Eric Towner (@etowner5) September 28, 2025

1. Casualties and injuries
   Official updates given at the scene reported two people killed and eight others injured, with one of the wounded in critical condition and the rest reported stable; some local outlets have published slightly different totals as hospitals continued treating victims, so numbers may be refined as hospitals and police release consolidated tallies.

   
   
   

2. The suspect was neutralized by police.
   Responding officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect in the church parking lot; police say the suspect was shot and killed and there was no ongoing threat to the public. Officials also noted an extremely rapid response time to the emergency call.

3. Weapon and tactics reported.
   Investigators described the firearm used as an assault-style rifle and said the suspect fired “several rounds” into the congregation before leaving the building; police also indicated the fire in the structure appeared deliberate.

4. Explosive devices and vehicle evidence.
   Local reporting and law-enforcement updates state that improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were found inside the suspect’s vehicle and that bomb-squad resources (robots and specialists) were used to render devices safe while investigators processed the scene. Treat references to the number/type of devices as provisional while the bomb squad’s report is finalized.

5. Home search, bomb squad and federal assistance.
   Authorities searched Sanford’s Burton residence as part of the probe; state bomb-squad teams and federal agents — including the FBI — were involved in evidence collection and interviewing witnesses, indicating the investigation moved quickly to a multi-agency effort.

   
   
   

6. Reports of military service — not yet officially confirmed.
   Several media outlets and family/social-media posts circulating online have identified Sanford as having served overseas (reports mention Iraq-era service). Police have not yet officially confirmed the details of his service during initial briefings; treat this as reported but not fully verified until investigators or military records confirm it.

7. Motive: investigators are still working and officials are cautious.
   As of initial briefings, police say no motive has been publicly released. Investigators have seized the vehicle, are reviewing cellphone records and social media, and are interviewing many witnesses; the FBI and other federal partners were reported assisting in sorting evidence and possible links. Expect official updates as forensic work and interviews progress.

8. Community impact and official reaction.
   The attack prompted statements from state and national leaders, emergency warnings to avoid the area while responders worked, and heightened security at some houses of worship in other jurisdictions. Local church leadership and community groups mobilized support for victims and families; officials urged the public to rely on verified updates from law enforcement as the investigation continues.

FAQ Section

Who is the suspect in the Michigan church attack?
Police identified the suspect as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, who was killed after exchanging gunfire with officers.

Where did the incident happen?
The attack occurred at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, a suburb of Flint, Michigan.

How did the attack unfold?
Authorities say Sanford drove a pickup truck into the church during Sunday service, opened fire with an assault-style rifle, and started a fire inside the building.

How many people were affected?
Two people were killed and eight others injured. One victim remains in critical condition, while the others are in stable condition.

Was the suspect’s motive revealed?
As of now, police and federal investigators have not confirmed a motive. The investigation is ongoing.

Were any explosives involved?
Authorities reported finding improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the suspect’s vehicle, which were neutralized by bomb technicians.

Is the community still at risk?
No. Police confirmed the shooter was neutralized at the scene and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

What agencies are involved in the investigation?
Local police, state officials, and federal agencies including the FBI are working together on the case.

Where is the suspect from?
Sanford lived in Burton, Michigan, about eight miles north of Grand Blanc.

What is the community response?
Local leaders and community groups are rallying to support victims and families, while authorities urged the public to follow only verified updates.

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.