The gunman who plowed his pickup truck, donning two American flags in back, into a Michigan church and then began shooting at worshippers on Sunday, Sept. 28, was a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Iraq.
The attack left at least two people dead and eight others hospitalized.
Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, was killed by police less than 10 minutes after the mass shooting and church fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township began, authorities said.
Sanford did stints in Japan and Iraq after graduating from Goodrich High School in 2003, according to a 2007 news article from the Clarkston News.
The newspaper described his military career at the time as “stellar.” He served in Okinawa, Japan, earned honors “on the rifle range,” and was a sergeant before he was sent to serve in Fallujah, Iraq, the newspaper reported. The paper said he was a wrecker driver who helped recover damaged vehicles.
Sanford doesn’t appear to have a criminal record, according to online court records.
At 5 p.m. on Sunday, before Sanford was publicly identified as the shooter, there was a strong showing of law enforcement in front of his home. A Michigan State Police helicopter circled overhead and dozens of police vehicles had East Atherton Road blocked in front of the home. A bomb squad vehicle with bulldozer tracks and an armored cab was also stationed out front, with other vehicles included two bomb squad vans, multiple police cruisers and Medstar Ambulance waiting at the ready. And, at one point, a robot and a drone were deployed.
Nearby homes were evacuated. One officer on scene advised news media to move back, saying there was a small possibility of an explosion. He stressed it was likely a small possibility, but wanted people to be aware.
The bloodshed prompted chaos in the small-town community not far from Flint. Authorities on Sunday feared more people are believed to have been trapped inside the church and may have perished in the flames.
Survivors evacuated from the church were taken to the nearby NCG Trillium Cinema for “reunification and questioning,” an officer told the Detroit Free Press.
As church attendees left the theater, some rushed to family members and friends waiting outside, hugging, weeping, and praying.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at asahouri@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Suspect in Michigan shooting at LDS church identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford
Reporting by Andrea May Sahouri and John Wisely, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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