MI, Grand Blanc - Mass Shooting at Mormon Church, fire, 28 Sept 2025

[bcallred]

No, it's not speculation.
His wife is LDS and he converted.

She literally states "this is wild speculation on my part" prior to stating that he joined and that he married this woman.

 

[Chimera]

First victim of Michigan church massacre revealed

Navy veteran John Bond, 77, was killed on Sunday after Thomas Jacob Sanford unleashed an attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.

www.dailymail.co.uk

"... A father-of-six and grandfather who served in Vietnam has been named as the first victim of the Michigan church massacre.

Navy veteran John Bond, 77, was killed on Sunday after Thomas Jacob Sanford unleashed an attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 'Grand Blanc.
Bond was a 'loving husband, father, and grandfather..."

Rest in peace, John !
My condolences to his loved ones.

 

[bcallred]

I'm confused now by the reporting about the ex-girlfriend and his wife.
His ex- girlfriend was a Mormon in Utah but TS said that for him to be sealed his tattoos had to go.
You have to be a married Mormon to be "sealed" so I had gathered it is with his now wife when the tatoo issue came up.
Unless the ex-girfriend wouldn't marry him because he would never have his tattoos removed therefore she could never be sealed in the church with him?

Did TS come from a Mormon family?
Is TS's wife a Mormon?
Did TS convert to Mormonism?

Not much is known as you pointed out. I am an active member and so this is the most insider-view available.
It has been stated that he/gf in Utah were involved with meth. If this is true, odds are he did not get baptized in this time.

Any reference to needing tattoos removed for any ceremony is a misunderstanding on his part, I have never seen this requested or mentioned. The reference to sealing is a thing done only after being baptized a year (same requirement as endowment), it is a religious version of a civil marriage. Based on what I've read it seems he was offended at the insinuation of tattoos not being welcome, but his seemingly active use of drugs/alcohol would have prevented him from attending the temple far before his aversion to removing tattoos.

This is clearly a theological attack, nothing to do with political differences because probably 80% of the congregants voted conservatively as well.

The phrase anti-christ strongly ties him to an opposing Christian theology, most average Americans don't reference biblical stereotypes. I have been called anti-christ numerous times, that alone is not indicative of anything and is commonly used by pastors.

His fathers interview does not indicate a familial relationship with the LDS.

Congregations are assigned geographically by the church but the building he drove to was not his assigned location and is also not the closest to him, so some level of targeting seems possible there.

 

[indicolite22]

Congregations are assigned geographically by the church but the building he drove to was not his assigned location and is also not the closest to him, so some level of targeting seems possible there.

SBM. LDS religion was definitely his target, judging by his obsession with it in the discussion he had a week prior. Perhaps the access to this particular church was easier than elsewhere. Did he think anyone would support his cowardly act?

 

[Ontario Mom]

Not much is known as you pointed out. I am an active member and so this is the most insider-view available.
It has been stated that he/gf in Utah were involved with meth. If this is true, odds are he did not get baptized in this time.

I haven't been able to read every article so I was hoping you might be able to link to one that mentions meth use?

 

[Ontario Mom]

SBM. LDS religion was definitely his target, judging by his obsession with it in the discussion he had a week prior. Perhaps the access to this particular church was easier than elsewhere. Did he think anyone would support his cowardly act?

I think we've all had plenty of repulsive examples in the media lately that answer this question.
There are people among us who somehow justify murder of people they disagree with.

 

[Diddian]

I haven't been able to read every article so I was hoping you might be able to link to one that mentions meth use?

I can't access the NYT, but this article references a NYT article stating such and also quotes friends of Sanford, who reported his meth use.

Michigan shooter hated Mormons and used meth, friends say

A relationship that went wrong may have set Thomas Jacob Sanford off on a decade-long vendetta against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

www.the-independent.com

 

[Serononin]

Not much is known as you pointed out. I am an active member and so this is the most insider-view available.
It has been stated that he/gf in Utah were involved with meth. If this is true, odds are he did not get baptized in this time.

Any reference to needing tattoos removed for any ceremony is a misunderstanding on his part, I have never seen this requested or mentioned. The reference to sealing is a thing done only after being baptized a year (same requirement as endowment), it is a religious version of a civil marriage. Based on what I've read it seems he was offended at the insinuation of tattoos not being welcome, but his seemingly active use of drugs/alcohol would have prevented him from attending the temple far before his aversion to removing tattoos.

This is clearly a theological attack, nothing to do with political differences because probably 80% of the congregants voted conservatively as well.

The phrase anti-christ strongly ties him to an opposing Christian theology, most average Americans don't reference biblical stereotypes. I have been called anti-christ numerous times, that alone is not indicative of anything and is commonly used by pastors.

His fathers interview does not indicate a familial relationship with the LDS.

Congregations are assigned geographically by the church but the building he drove to was not his assigned location and is also not the closest to him, so some level of targeting seems possible there.

This is purely my own opinion, but the article posted earlier in the thread about the shooter's ill son, which includes quotes from him and his wife, seems to indicate that they were some form of mainstream Christian, most likely Protestant. I know some of the more conservative/fundamentalist-leaning Evangelical-type churches can be very anti-Catholic, so it wouldn't surprise me if some of them are also anti-LDS. Not that I think that's likely to be the root of this guy's apparently virulent views, but it could be where he picked up the "anti-Christ" verbiage

 

[Inthedetails]

I haven't been able to read every article so I was hoping you might be able to link to one that mentions meth use?

I linked one upthread, but the article doesn't say the GF had a meth issue, but at some point in his life, the perp did. That is according to a life-long friend of his.

The article is likely paywalled, but it's my understanding that a summary of paywalled sources, as I provided, is acceptable.

My hunch is he had a substance problem and that's why he went to Utah - to get a new, clean start. I don't think he currently has a meth problem, but that is my speculation not fact.

Michigan Church Attacker Is Said to Have Held a Grudge Against Mormons

Several friends and acquaintances of the man accused of attacking a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse said he had long railed against the faith.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Elley Mae]

I haven't been able to read every article so I was hoping you might be able to link to one that mentions meth use?

But his time living in Utah and heavy use of methamphetamine appeared to change him more. There, he fell in love with a woman who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the relationship ended painfully, his friend said.

Michigan Church Attacker Is Said to Have Held a Grudge Against Mormons

Several friends and acquaintances of the man accused of attacking a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse said he had long railed against the faith.

www.nytimes.com

 

[anneoakley63]

One of the trainings I conduct is Active Shooter training, and the last training I conducted was at a church.

I'm on the security team for my church and we had LE come in and teach an Active Shooter training. We have "range days" at a local shooting rage about once every 3 months. We've also been taught in hand-to-hand combat. I miss the days of just going to church and relaxing, with no worries.

 

[anneoakley63]

So the shooter last night in Southport NC was an ex-marine and the suspect in this case is also. They are both around 40 years old. I understand that mental health issues are challenging, but these people deserved lots of support from Veteran's Affairs after coming home from Iraq/Afghanistan. I know it's not simple. For sure there will be people who will fall through the cracks or those that simply can't be helped.

(Not political. Just expressing concern for those for people with PTSD and those around them who struggle to help them. Hugs to all.)

Unfortunately, our veterans do NOT receive the care they need when returning from war. I can speak to this as the sister of a soldier who served in Iraq for 4 years. He came back a different person and it took almost 5 years to get him treated properly. PTSD is real and the issues they face when returning home aren't good. It's a sad situation.

I'm not saying that is what caused this shooting, so I'll hold off my opinion on that.

But I will say that our soldiers who have served in war should receive a lot more treatment and respect than they have in the past. (Not political but the truth needs to be stated)

 

[indicolite22]

He held a grudge related to his previous romantic relationship for over 10 years. It's sad that not even his new family could make him take his mind off of it. Seemingly he was paranoid (based on what?) that the Mormons were taking over the world.

Suspect Thomas Sanford ranted Mormons would ‘take over the world’: Live updates

Thomas Jacob Sanford is accused of shooting at hundreds of worshippers at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan

www.independent.co.uk

It looks like his gf had tattoos as well, so his complaint about tattoos not being tolerated in the LDS religion might have been bogus.

Pic from the above article:

 

[ReadySet]

No, it's not speculation.
His wife is LDS and he converted.

No, she is totally speculating that his wife is LDS and that he is. There is no evidence his wife is LDS, no evidence he converted.

 

[bcallred]

This is purely my own opinion, but the article posted earlier in the thread about the shooter's ill son, which includes quotes from him and his wife, seems to indicate that they were some form of mainstream Christian, most likely Protestant. I know some of the more conservative/fundamentalist-leaning Evangelical-type churches can be very anti-Catholic, so it wouldn't surprise me if some of them are also anti-LDS. Not that I think that's likely to be the root of this guy's apparently virulent views, but it could be where he picked up the "anti-Christ" verbiage

Your opinion matches 40 years of my experience. Occasional politeness, but in general a mainstream christian view of LDS is that we are not christian, a few even consider us worse or equal to devil worship. I know this is taught, to varying degrees, in thousands of churches across the country (i've lived in 5 states in most regions, currently in TN) but certainly his mental state took a scriptural disagreement to an insane level.

 

[anneoakley63]

Suspect Thomas Jacob Sanford railed against Mormons before church assault. Live updates

Authorities say the deadly attack at a church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, was carried out by 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford.

www.usatoday.com

also..happening today.
Officers on Monday stopped a man who tried to drive through the police barricade surrounding the church where Sunday's attack took place.

Inside the man's car, officers found a long gun in the front seat, according to Detroit Free Press reporters who saw the weapon being removed from the car.

At a news conference, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said a 21-year-old man was taken into custody and that officers were "still in the process of investigating that incident."

My husband was born and raised in this area. When I told him what had happened, he was shocked. He's reaching out to people he grew up with just to make sure everyone is okay.

I don't understand why people want to do things like this after such a horrible tragedy.

 

[Cryptic]

SBM. LDS religion was definitely his target, judging by his obsession with it in the discussion he had a week prior. Perhaps the access to this particular church was easier than elsewhere.

Though I am not familiar with Mormonism, I have read articles suggesting that this particular church was holding special events that would have led to more people attending the service.

If so, I suspect he kept tabs on various Mormon churches, then used his knowledge or Mormon religious practices to identify what events at what times would result in increased attendances at what churches.

 

[Cryptic]

Interesting. Most of these shooting seem to be much younger men.

I agree, that is odd. Maybe....

The younger rampagers are more likely to be "failure to launches" regarding life. This "failure to launch" is reflected by the perpetrator drifting with out clear purpose, unable to find meaningful work, lack of personal discipline needed to find meaningful work, debts, attempts to establish a new identity etc.

This perpetrator, however, launched into life well via military service to the country. This service was affirmed by his friends and family.

But... sometimes life requires several launches- say, in response to a child with medical needs. There could have been problems with follow on launch II.

For example, increased substance abuse waters down the rocket fuel. How steady was his fire place related work? Could he readily find other work with a drug and criminal history? What was the state of his marriage? Perhaps the rocket was having software command and control issues as well.

To fuel up the rocket with "purpose", he creates a new identity: Anti Mormon Crusader- though he cant really articulate why he is on the crusade. Launch II then flames out..... .

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1973057030186213485

"The retired US Marine who attacked a Mormon church
likely used tactics he learned while serving in the Iraq War to maximize casualties,
experts explained.

Lieutenant Colonel Hal Kempfer,
a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer and domestic terrorism expert,
said
Sanford appeared to have planned his attack like a military operation.

'He crashes through the doors,
causes massive confusion, mayhem. They're overwhelmed
and by the time they realize what's happened...
he's opened fire'.

Even though he was not in the Marine infantry,
Sanford would have gone through basic training and a Marine Combat Skill course that teaches battle tactics.

Kempfer said this was a classic example of a 'combined attack'
Sanford would have learned during his military training.

'When you have fire and smoke,
it causes more confusion.
People are trying to avoid it
and they may walk right into a kill zone'."

 

[Charlot123]

snipped

Replying to myself. More people are now coming forward to say the perp had anger against LDS.

A summary of a paywalled article:

Life-long friends say the perp's anger against the LDS church stemmed from a relationship with the girlfriend in Utah years ago.

A friend also said the perp changed from class-clown to serious after serving in the military, but the Utah situation and meth changed him more. First we've heard of meth use?

According to friends (plural), the perp was vocal about hating the LDS church and thought the church wanted to take over the world. Apparently, he talked about this A LOT.

The perp worked for his family's fireplace business.

Michigan Church Attacker Is Said to Have Held a Grudge Against Mormons

Several friends and acquaintances of the man accused of attacking a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse said he had long railed against the faith.

www.nytimes.com

Supposedly he had a bad relationship with a Mormon girl years ago. But to kill four people, including a 6-year old child, and burn many others - this is beyond any pale. Let us say that girl was lucky to escape something very bad.

The fact that he used drugs is too obvious. I posted my feeling about it. I was not sure about meth. His gaze is typical for a meth user but his teeth look good. Also, he appeared to be "mostly affable", just laser-pointing his hatred onto Mormons. This looks slightly different than regular meth-induced psychosis, but no two people respond to substances the same way. I thought that perhaps he added something additional to meth as of recently, or maybe changed his dealer. But overall, it explains a lot. I hope that someone shall take notes...