GRAND BLANC, Michigan, Sept 28 – The man accused of carrying out a deadly attack on a church in Michigan over the weekend has been identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former U.S. Marine and veteran of the Iraq War. Authorities confirmed that Sanford, who served four years in the military, died during an exchange of gunfire with police after the incident turned violent.
The tragedy unfolded on Sunday when Sanford drove his truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. After crashing the vehicle into the building, witnesses and officials say he opened fire inside the church, killing at least four worshippers and wounding eight others. To escalate the destruction, he also set parts of the church on fire before being confronted by law enforcement officers. Sanford was ultimately shot and killed in the standoff.
In the aftermath of the attack, investigators began piecing together Sanford’s background and possible motivations. A key detail that stood out was his military history, as the truck he rammed into the church carried a license plate denoting his status as an Iraq War veteran. Social media posts from his family further confirmed this connection, including an image shared by his mother that reportedly shows Sanford standing beside the same truck later used in the rampage.
Military records show that Sanford enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2004 and completed his service in June 2008. During that time, he rose to the rank of sergeant and was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in August 2007. His deployment lasted until early 2008, ending just months before his departure from the Marines.
While serving, Sanford specialized in motor transport and combat logistics, holding responsibilities that included the maintenance and repair of tactical vehicles as well as vehicle recovery operations in support of military missions. These duties placed him in an essential support role, ensuring that troops had reliable equipment during active operations. He was last stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he worked in combat logistics until his departure from the service in March 2008.
Officials familiar with his record noted that Sanford received the standard recognition given to Marines of his rank and position at the time. Nothing in his official file suggests that he left the military under unusual circumstances, and his performance was generally consistent with the expectations of a non-commissioned officer serving in logistics support.
Beyond his military career, Sanford was also known as a father. Family posts online reveal that his son faced significant health challenges after birth, with the family documenting his struggles and treatment through hospital updates. Despite these personal hardships, little is publicly known about how Sanford’s life unfolded in the years following his military service.
As investigators continue to search for answers, the most pressing question remains why Sanford chose to carry out such a brutal attack on a place of worship. Authorities have yet to identify a motive, and no statements have been released that indicate what may have driven him to target the Grand Blanc congregation.
The attack has left the local community reeling, as members of the church and residents of the area grapple with the loss of life and the trauma inflicted on survivors. Four victims lost their lives during the shooting, and eight more were left injured, some critically, in what officials have described as one of the most devastating acts of violence the area has ever experienced. The fire set by Sanford caused additional damage to the church building, compounding the grief of the congregation that has now been left without its place of gathering.
The fact that Sanford was a veteran has sparked conversations about the difficulties many former service members face after returning to civilian life. Although no direct link has been established between his time in Iraq and the attack, some observers have raised questions about whether unresolved trauma or mental health struggles may have played a role. These questions remain speculative, however, as authorities have not provided any evidence pointing to his state of mind leading up to the tragedy.
Community leaders and church officials have called for unity and resilience in the face of this violence. Vigils and gatherings are being planned to honor the lives of those lost and to support those injured. The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement working to understand the chain of events that led to Sanford’s final act of destruction.