(The Hill) — The suspect in the Sunday shooting at a Michigan church was a Marine who served in Iraq, according to military officials.
Authorities identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, who died on the scene.
According to a statement from the Marine Corps, obtained by Nexstar’s NewsNation, Sanford was a sergeant who served from 2004 to 2008 and was deployed during the Iraq War. He received several honors, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.
Officials reported that four individuals lost their lives in a shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, while some remain unaccounted for. Authorities stated that Sanford drove his car into the church and ignited a fire.
President Donald Trump said Sunday the deadly shooting at the Mormon church looked to be a “targeted attack on Christians.”
“I have been briefed on the terrible shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI promptly arrived at the scene and will be spearheading the Federal Investigation, offering full cooperation to State and Local Authorities. The suspect is deceased, but much remains to be uncovered,” wrote Trump on his Truth Social platform.
On Sunday night, the FBI’s Detroit field office also posted online, requesting that the public provide any information that could aid the investigation.
The incident follows the shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis in late August.
