On a Sunday morning that should have been quiet, the small community of Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, was shattered. People were just settling into their pews at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Then, a silver pickup truck smashed through the wall.
What followed wasn't just a random accident. It was a calculated, violent assault that left the building in ruins and a community in mourning. The church shooting Michigan suspect was quickly identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford.
He didn't just bring a gun. He brought fire.
The details that have emerged since that September day are heavy. Sanford, a resident of nearby Burton, was a former Marine sergeant with a history that investigators are still trying to piece together. This wasn't a stranger from far away; he lived just a few miles from the sanctuary he destroyed.
The Timeline of the Grand Blanc Attack
At 10:25 a.m., the first 911 calls started flooding in. Worshippers described a scene out of a nightmare. Sanford had driven his truck directly into the side of the chapel. He stepped out and began firing an assault rifle at the congregants.
But he wasn't done.
He had containers of gasoline. He used them to ignite the building while people were still trapped inside. Within minutes, the towering white steeple was a pillar of black smoke. The fire was so intense it eventually caused the chapel to partially collapse.
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Law enforcement moved fast. A Grand Blanc Township officer and a Michigan Department of Natural Resources officer were the first on the scene. They didn't wait. By 10:33 a.m.—just eight minutes after the first call—Sanford was dead, killed in a shootout with police in the church parking lot.
Who was Thomas Jacob Sanford?
The church shooting Michigan suspect wasn't a ghost. He had a paper trail.
Sanford served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008. He was a sergeant who had seen combat in Iraq, specifically in Fallujah. He had a Good Conduct Medal. To his neighbors in Burton, he was a guy with a small brick house and two American flags flying from his truck bed.
But there were cracks.
Friends told investigators that after he left the Marines, things changed. He moved to Utah for a while. That's where some say the "anti-religious" sentiment started. He apparently dated a woman who was a member of the LDS faith, and the breakup was messy. He later told people he had struggled with methamphetamine addiction during that time.
A week before the shooting, a local council candidate named Kris Johns ran into Sanford. During a brief conversation about the Second Amendment, Sanford reportedly told him, "Mormons are the Antichrist." It was a warning sign that, in hindsight, feels like a neon light.
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A Motive Built on Hatred
For weeks, the FBI was careful with their words. They called it a "targeted act of violence." They didn't want to rush to a conclusion. But by November, the Detroit field office was clear.
Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Runyan confirmed the attack was motivated by "anti-religious beliefs" specifically directed at the Mormon community.
It's a chilling reality. Sanford didn't choose the Grand Blanc church because it was convenient. He passed several other churches on his drive from Burton. He chose this specific congregation because of what they believed.
The Victims We Lost
Four innocent people died that day. They weren't just names in a police report; they were the heart of that community.
- Craig Hayden
- William "Pat" Howard
- John Bond
- Thelma Armstrong
Eight others were injured, some from gunshot wounds and others from the thick, acrid smoke that filled the building as it burned. Among the injured was a 6-year-old child.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Suspect
There's a lot of noise online when something like this happens. You'll hear theories that he was part of a larger group or that it was a spontaneous mental health break.
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The evidence points elsewhere.
Authorities found three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in his truck. He had planned the arson. He had planned the entry. This wasn't a snap decision; it was a siege. While his mental state and history of substance abuse are factors, the FBI’s focus remains on the specific, vocalized hatred he held for years.
How the Community is Responding Now
Grand Blanc isn't the same. It can't be.
But the response hasn't been more hate. In a letter that went viral, Lisa Louis—the daughter of victim Craig Hayden—wrote that she forgave the church shooting Michigan suspect from her heart. It’s an almost unfathomable level of grace given the circumstances.
The church building itself was a total loss. Investigators spent days sifting through the charred remains, looking for every piece of evidence. Today, the site is a quiet reminder of the violence, but also of the heroes—like the hospital employees from nearby Henry Ford Genesys who ran into the burning building to pull people out.
Actionable Steps for Safety and Awareness
If you live in the area or are part of a religious organization, there are real things to take away from this tragedy.
- Review Emergency Action Plans: Most houses of worship now have security teams. This event showed that response time is everything. The officers were there in seconds, which undoubtedly saved dozens of lives.
- Report Radicalizing Speech: If someone is vocalizing specific, targeted threats or dehumanizing language against a group—like Sanford’s "Antichrist" comments—tell local law enforcement. It’s not about "snitching"; it’s about prevention.
- Mental Health for Veterans: Sanford’s transition from combat to civilian life was clearly rocky. Supporting local veteran outreach programs can help catch individuals who are spiraling before they reach a breaking point.
- Situational Awareness: The congregants who noticed the truck early were able to move. Always know your exits, no matter where you are.
The investigation is technically ongoing as the FBI processes digital evidence from Sanford's home, but the picture is largely complete. It was a day of inexplicable darkness, fueled by a long-simmering resentment that finally boiled over into a quiet Michigan suburb.
Next Steps for You
- Check Local Resources: If you have been affected by this event, the FBI Detroit field office and local Genesee County agencies have victim support services available.
- Stay Informed: Follow official updates from the Grand Blanc Township Police Department for any new information regarding the site’s reconstruction or memorials.
- Support the Survivors: Community funds have been established for the families of the four victims and the eight injured survivors to help with medical and funeral expenses.