A week before a tragic shooting at a Mormon church in Michigan, Thomas Jacob Sanford shared unsettling views on religion with a local resident. This conversation now casts a grim shadow over the horrific events that unfolded on Sunday.
According to the Daily Mail, Sanford, a 40-year-old former Marine from Burton, rammed his pickup truck into a church in Grand Blanc Township, opened fire, and set the building ablaze. The attack left four dead and eight injured before police shot and killed him in the parking lot.
The incident, which occurred around 10:25 a.m. while hundreds were inside, also involved gasoline to start the fire and potential explosive devices, though it’s unclear if they were used. Authorities are still piecing together a motive for this act of violence.
Nearly a week prior, Kris Johns, a city council candidate canvassing a neighborhood, spoke with Sanford in what began as a friendly exchange. Johns recalled Sanford’s initial warmth, even mentioning a child with serious medical concerns.
However, the tone shifted sharply when religion entered the discussion, with Sanford declaring Mormons to be “the anti-Christ.” Johns, a Christian from a different church, felt uneasy and quickly sought to end the interaction.
Sanford’s past ties to Utah, a hub of Mormon culture, and a relationship with a woman involved in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, added layers to his apparent resentment. Johns noted Sanford’s barrage of questions about Mormon beliefs felt like rehearsed talking points from social media.
During their talk, Sanford opened up about battling drug addiction after his military service, hinting at deeper personal turmoil. He also mentioned removing tattoos to participate in church ceremonies, a detail visible in old social media photos showing barbed wire and dreamcatcher designs.
Johns didn’t sense immediate danger at the time, admitting he heard no explicit threats that warranted alerting authorities. Yet, looking back after the shooting, he described Sanford as unforgettable, a man whose intensity left a mark.
Family and friends later revealed Sanford struggled with PTSD from his time in the Marines, where he served from 2004 to 2008, including a deployment to Iraq. This history of trauma raises questions about whether more could have been done to address his mental state.
Just two days before the attack, Sanford’s mother, Brenda Walters-Sanford, posted a cryptic message on social media about avoiding accountability and emotional deflection. While it’s unclear if the words targeted her son, the timing and tone are chilling in hindsight.
Forensic psychiatrist Carole Lieberman suggested this post could have acted as a trigger for Sanford, given his vulnerable mental health. If directed at him, such public criticism might have deepened his sense of isolation or betrayal.
The broader family context, including frequent pro-Trump messaging on social media by Sanford’s loved ones, paints a picture of a charged environment. While not directly tied to the shooting, it suggests a backdrop of strong ideological undercurrents.
The attack’s toll is heartbreaking, with victims ranging from age six to 78, five treated for gunshot wounds, and three for smoke inhalation. A child among the injured was stabilized and released, but authorities continue searching the charred ruins for more casualties.
Law enforcement, including the FBI and ATF, are investigating the improvised explosive devices found at the scene and working to uncover Sanford’s motives. This act of violence has shaken the community, leaving many to wonder how such hatred festered unnoticed.
As the nation grapples with yet another mass shooting, Sanford’s story forces a hard look at mental health support for veterans and the subtle signs of distress that too often go ignored. Society must do better to intervene before personal struggles erupt into public tragedies, without excusing the devastating choices made.
