The Michigan Church Attack: What We're Learning About the Alleged Shooter
No known motive yet, but there are clues
On Sunday morning in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, a man drove a silver pickup truck with two large American flags into a Mormon church, started shooting, set the building on fire, and killed at least four worshippers. Eight more were wounded. The attacker, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, was shot dead by police.
Records and Google Maps show Sanford had a blue “Trump” sign on a shed next to his house in Burton, about 15 minutes from the church.
In family photos on Facebook, he’s wearing a “Re-elect Trump 2020” shirt with the slogan: “Make Liberals Cry Again.”
That points toward a political motive. But we don’t know yet. There’s more to learn.
No party affiliation in Michigan’s open primary system.
Signed petitions to repeal the governor’s pandemic powers and to restrict abortion.
Former Marine, served in Iraq. Worked as an auto mechanic. Local resident.
The attack was quick. He crashed into the church, fired rifles, and set the fire. Police stopped him in about eight minutes.
Authorities say the motive is still under investigation. Any claims beyond that are speculation.
When news breaks this fast, and a Trump sign is in the story, interpretations run ahead of facts. President Trump himself responded, saying “there is still a lot to learn” and calling it “another targeted attack on Christians.”
That’s a softer tone than his quick reaction after a recent killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk, where he immediately blamed the “radical left.”
The spotlight now shifts to Trump’s allies, media, and critics. Do they frame this as proof of a rising threat from “antifa” or “radical left terrorists”? Do they demand more crackdowns? Or do they hold back until investigators have answers?
We’ve seen the pattern, though. We’re probably going to see real facts and evidence drowned out in a political fog, a bolder drawing of the dividing line between us and them, where blame will be assigned for political expediency rather than hard fact.