Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40‑year‑old former U.S. Marine, is the identified suspect in the shooting and arson attack at a Latter‑day Saints (LDS) church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on September 28, 2025. He served in the Marine Corps from 2004 to 2008, achieving the rank of sergeant, and was deployed to Iraq for part of his service (August 2007 to March 2008).

On the morning of the attack, Sanford drove a pickup truck into the church building during a Sunday service, then exited and opened fire on congregants. He also apparently used gasoline to ignite a fire inside the church, and authorities believe improvised explosive devices were found in or on the vehicle, though it is not confirmed whether they were used. The attack resulted in at least four deaths (excluding the perpetrator) and eight wounded, though some reports suggest additional victims could remain in the burned structure.

Law enforcement responded quickly: officers arrived within about 30 seconds of the first emergency call, and Sanford was fatally shot by officers after about eight minutes of the incident.  Investigators are treating the incident as an act of targeted violence and have launched searches of Sanford’s residence, digital devices, and communications to try to determine motive.

Much about his personal life has also emerged: he lived in Burton, Michigan, near Grand Blanc, and previously in Atlas Township (Genesee County). He graduated from Goodrich High School in 2003. Reports indicate he was a father; his son was born with a rare disorder (congenital hyperinsulinism) that required extensive medical care, as documented in a GoFundMe campaign from 2015.  Records also show Sanford had signed conservative political petitions, including one to repeal Michigan’s pandemic emergency powers and another related to abortion restrictions. At his residence, a “Trump” sign was seen, though there is no confirmed evidence he acted on political ideology.