Written by Tanya Terry, with photo courtesy of the Grand Blanc Township Police Department
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye recently gave those living in Genesee County and around the country an update after a recent shooting and suspected arson occurring at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc Township.
The suspected shooter, along with four others, were left dead, and eight other people were injured because of a horrifying attack that occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc Township
It happened around 11 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, around the time morning church service would have started.
Thomas Sanford, of Burton, Michigan, is suspected of being responsible for the nightmarish scenes many in the area witnessed. Police, who interviewed multiple witnesses, said he drove his truck into the church and began firing gunshots. Then, he did what most people would consider unthinkable. He set the church on fire!
Some reported seeing dead bodies on the sidewalks.
Sanford was a former member of the United States Marine Corps and an Iraq War veteran, as well as a sergeant.
Family members said he had dated a Mormon woman and began using meth heavily when living in Utah for two years, before returning to Michigan in 2010.
He himself was killed as a result of being involved in a shootout with police shortly after flames burst out at the church.
Sanford had previously been arrested for both burglary and driving while intoxicated.
Kris Johns, a Burton resident who is running for Burton City Council, told the Courier he had talked to Sanford before the recent tragedy.
“My only interaction with Mr. Sanford was a result of doing political canvassing for my city council race,” Johns said. “His address was one of just many on my map. It was Monday, September 22, around 6 o’ clock. I stopped at his home. He was already outside of his home. He met me in the driveway.”
Johns said he had his daughter with him while canvassing, and he described Sandford as “outgoing.”
“He was definitely a person who wanted to speak, not necessarily to me; but he wanted to talk to someone,” Johns continued.
According to Johns, Sanford’s first question to him was: “What do you think about guns?” Johns told him he supported the 2nd Amendment.
“For the next question, he leans in, and he asks ‘what do you know about Mormons?”’
Johns stated that although each question after that was more direct and “pointed at the history of” the Church of Latter Day Saints, no threats were made at that time.
“He had very strongly held beliefs,” Johns said. “…He did not state to me ‘I’m going to kill.’”
Johns said he noticed Sanford had tattoos on his arm.
“He said ‘they want me to get the tattoos removed’. He didn’t say who they was, but I would make an assumption that that was the church.”
In addition to Grand Blanc Township Police and Fire Departments, more than 100 FBI personnel, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Michigan State Police, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other agencies have been collaborating for the investigation of the tragedy.
Johns said Sanford told him he was concerned because he had a child who had serious health issues. Johns said his heart went out to him at that time because Johns also has a child with special needs.
“This man, he murdered people so that there are folks that no longer have fathers, and his own child lost a father.”
