On Sunday, a devastating shooting occurred at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, leaving at least four worshippers dead and eight others injured. The assailant, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was ultimately shot and killed by police during the incident. Public records reveal that Sanford displayed a sign with the last name of former President Donald Trump outside his residence.
In response to the church shooting, President Trump stated, “there is still a lot to learn” about the deceased suspect. He characterized the attack as “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States,” sharing his comments on his Truth Social platform. Trump's remarks were notably more subdued than his previous reactions, which had included blaming the “radical left” for a different shooting that occurred 18 days earlier, resulting in the death of rightwing activist Charlie Kirk.
Images from Google Maps taken in June reveal that Sanford had a blue sign displaying Trump’s last name affixed to a shed at his home in Burton, Michigan, approximately a 15-minute drive from the targeted church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The sign, first reported by the Daily Beast, was positioned above a red stop sign, though it remains unclear if it also featured the names of Trump’s former running mates, Mike Pence or JD Vance.
A family photo shared on Facebook shows Sanford alongside his wife and 10-year-old son, both wearing a “Re-elect Trump 2020” T-shirt, which carries the slogan “Make Liberals Cry Again.” As investigations into the motive behind the shooting continue, state police have cautioned against speculation, acknowledging that any conjecture surrounding Sanford's reasons for the attack remains just that. The FBI has labeled the incident an “act of targeted violence” but has not elaborated on the basis for this classification.
During an appearance on the conservative cable show Fox and Friends, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that, according to discussions with the FBI director, the shooter harbored animosity towards the Mormon faith. Investigators are also examining the extent of planning that went into the attack attributed to Sanford, who reportedly drove a silver pickup truck adorned with two American flags through the church's front entrance. He then opened fire on worshippers before allegedly setting the building ablaze, leading to his confrontation with police approximately eight minutes after the attack commenced at 10:25 AM.
Despite the evident support for Trump, there is limited information available regarding Sanford's political affiliations. Michigan operates open primary elections, meaning voter party preferences are not publicly recorded. As such, Sanford's voter registration shows no party affiliation. However, Democratic consultant Mark Grebner disclosed to Bridge Michigan that Sanford had signed two political petitions: one aimed at repealing pandemic emergency powers of Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and another supporting the Right to Life Michigan initiative to impose restrictions on abortion in the state.
Sanford, known as “Jake,” joined the US Marines in 2004 after completing high school. Military records indicate that he served as an automotive mechanic and was deployed to Iraq for seven months during the period of the US’s involvement in the war there. His home, where the Trump sign was displayed, was purchased for $96,211 in 2016, as confirmed by local property tax assessor records.
The church that Sanford is alleged to have attacked has since been completely destroyed, reportedly due to the fire set during the assault. Grand Blanc Township, a small community with a population of approximately 8,000 residents, is home to one of the area's largest Mormon congregations, which consists of about 150 members.
