The Michigan shooter who killed four churchgoers reportedly called Mormons ‘the anti-Christ’ just days before carrying out the attack.
Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from Burton, drove his truck into a church in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday morning, proceeding to shoot and set the building on fire.
The former Marine was shot dead by police in the church’s parking lot after killing four and injuring eight.
About a week before this shocking event, Kris Johns, a city council candidate, recounted a concerning discussion he had with Sanford.
While out canvassing, Johns spoke to Sanford and later shared his experience with the Detroit Free Press after seeing Sanford on the news.
‘It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook,’ Johns said of Burton.
Johns, 44, said Sanford shared his struggles with drug addiction after he moved back to the states following his time in the service.
Sanford, who was residing in Utah—a place known for its Mormon community—and was dating a woman associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was described by Johns during their dialogue.
Thomas Jacob Sanford, involved in the attack at a Michigan Mormon church, discussed disturbing sentiments with a local days before the assault.
City council contender Kris Johns reported that during their conversation, Sanford, a former Marine, expressed his belief that ‘Mormons are the anti-Christ.’
Johns said ‘it was one thing after another,’ as Stanford went on to ask him if he believed in God.
Johns, a Christian who is a member of the Solid Rock Community Church in Burton, replied ‘yes’ to Sandford, adding: ‘From there, the conversation takes a very sharp turn.’
He was then asked by Sanford about the Mormon bible, the role Jesus plays in the religion, the history of the LSD church, and more, Johns said.
‘I just didn’t know what the next question was going to be,’ he added.
‘There’s certain things you don’t forget. This is not a forgettable guy.’
The resident also spoke to journalist Dave Bondy about the interaction he had with the shooter.
As he went on to speak of the religion, Sanford told Johns that he had his tattoos removed so he could take part in church ceremonies.
Several tattoos were seen on his arm in Facebook photos of Sanford, including barbed wire imagery and what appears to be a dreamcatcher.
At some point, the city council candidate said the topic change to religion made him want to end the conversation.
‘He was extremely nice at first. He even talked about his child who had a serious medical concern. But when the conversation turned to religion, I just wanted to get off the door and away from him,’ he said.
Sanford told Johns that he had his tattoos removed so he could take part in church ceremonies. Several tattoos were seen on his arm in Facebook photos
Despite the intense conversation, Johns said he didn’t feel unsafe.
‘It wasn’t anything I thought I needed to call police about. You hear all kinds of views these days. Nothing about it suggested he was going to hurt anyone.’
It wasn’t until news broke of the mass shooting and fire that Johns realized the same man he spoke to was responsible for the carnage.
At least four people were killed and eight were left wounded on Sunday. Authorities said they would be searching the building ruins for more victims.
The attack occurred about 10.25am while hundreds of people were in the building in Grand Blanc Township, outside Flint.
The man got out of the pick-up with two American flags raised in the truck bed and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters.
The attacker apparently used gas to start the fire and also had explosive devices but it wasn’t clear if he used them, said James Dier, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
One family friend told journalist Ty Steele that Sanford had been battling PTSD.
‘It’s hard to feel sad for someone who did something so terrible, and I still feel sad. I had heard through family events that he had had PTSD,’ she said.
‘He would make comments occasionally and it was something that was kind of talked about. It wasn’t talked about in depth… so I don’t know the depth of his issues.’
Sanford’s loved ones, including his wife and both of his parents, also frequently shared pro-Trump messaging on their social media pages
At least four people were killed and eight were left wounded on Sunday. Authorities said they would be searching the building ruins for more victims. (Pictured: The charred church on Monday)
The shooter’s mother Brenda Walters-Sanford shared the above message two days before the massacre in Michigan
His mother, Brenda Walters-Sanford, posted a chilling message on her Facebook just two days before the incident about people who lack accountability.
‘Talking to someone who constantly avoids accountability is not a real conversation – it’s a battle. It’s a cycle of deflection, projection, twisting, and playing the victim..,’ the post read.
‘When I try to express how your actions have hurt me, you don’t listen with the intention of understanding; you listen with the intention of defending yourself. That’s not communication – that’s self-preservation of your ego.’
The text appears to have been shared by several Facebook users, suggesting it’s a viral chain. It is unclear if Walters-Sanford was directing it at her son or someone else she knew.
It continued: ‘I don’t owe my peace to someone who only wants to win an argument, not to understand my heart. My energy is not a prize for someone committed to misunderstanding me. At some point, you have to value yourself enough to stop begging someone to hear you.’
His mother’s Facebook post might have been a ‘trigger’ for Sanford, who suffered from PTSD, Carole Liberman, a forensic psychologist, told the Daily Mail. (Pictured: An undated image of Stanford in active duty)
The lengthy post by his mother might have been a ‘trigger’ for Sanford, Carole Liberman, a forensic psychologist with over 20 years studying criminals, told the Daily Mail.
‘If in reference to her son. Really mean. Very hurtful kinds of posts. That could’ve been a trigger,’ Liberman said.
‘Very personal. Very intimate. Saying how much he hurt her. Basically I hate my son. Dysfunctional childhood. Sometimes it’s more from the mother [than] from the father.
‘Put together it’s a dysfunctional childhood. [He] Had PTSD from the military, so we know he was particularly vulnerable.’
Sanford served in the Marines from June 2004 through June 2008, working as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, according to military records obtained by The Detroit News.
He was deployed to Iraq from August 2007 through March 2008 and had the rank of sergeant.
Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit FBI field office Reuben Coleman said during a press conference Monday afternoon that they are ‘continuing to work to determine a motive.’
They are currently calling the investigation and ‘act of violence,’ he said.
Authorities are looking into the improvised explosive devices that were uncovered at the scene, ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir said.
