General Discussion

AverageOldGuy

(3,038 posts)

19. 40-yr-old former Marine, Iraq war vet

Sun Sep 28, 2025, 05:18 PM

Sep 28

https://www.thedailybeast.com/us-marine-veteran-thomas-jacob-sanford-identified-as-michigan-church-shooter-report/

Authorities have identified a Marine veteran as the gunman who opened fire at a Michigan church and later set it ablaze, killing at least two people and wounding eight others on Sunday.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, from Burton was confirmed as the shooter at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township about an hour from Detroit.

The New York Post reported that an old Facebook post by Sanford’s mother indicated he served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008.

Everything I read says "hundreds" of people were inside the church. Reports are that he was driving a Chevy pickup flying two big Amereican flags, rammed into the church doors, started shooting, then, something exploded. Overhead photos show the church as a big building, totally involved in flames. Most reports quote local authorities anticipate a lot of dead after they get the fire out.

Other comments I have read on various blogs says this is a rural part of Michigan that went heavily from Trump with MAGAts everywhere.

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Highlight:

Photo that shows the gunman's truck crashed into the Mormon church in Michigan. (Twitter) [View all] Crunchy Frog Sep 28 OP

Flag waver ZDU Sep 28 #1

Yep. Two of 'em, one on each side so you just can't miss 'em. calimary Sep 28 #30

His Trump 2028 flag.... SergeStorms Sep 28 #36

When I visit Antelope Valley I see a lot of cars and trucks like that............... Lovie777 Sep 28 #2

They must all be radical left terrorists. Crunchy Frog Sep 28 #8

Someone with compounded nether region issues. TheBlackAdder Sep 28 #3

What does that mean? TommyT139 Sep 28 #26

Truck enid602 Sep 28 #4

Lots of them are white... regnaD kciN Sep 28 #43

Kirk's alleged killer was raised as a Mormon Kaleva Sep 28 #5

Was Kirk a Mormon? murielm99 Sep 28 #6

I don't think Kirk himself was a Mormon Kaleva Sep 28 #10

No, He was an Evangelical xtian. n/t Jacson6 Sep 28 #24

Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...... Lovie777 Sep 28 #9

Other reports say this truck belongs to a first responder Abnredleg Sep 28 #7

The truck is registered to the shooter Pototan Sep 28 #22

Probably some sort of fake. Srkdqltr Sep 28 #11

I've already seen completely different photographs of the same truck. Crunchy Frog Sep 28 #12

Pic was before fire took over. Here's aftermath, truck still visible, flags still visible Bernardo de La Paz Sep 28 #13

Thank you. First responders don't usually smash their trucks into sides of buildings do they? Crunchy Frog Sep 28 #14

It appears that truck did indeed slammed into the church............... Lovie777 Sep 28 #15

A few questions come to mind from seeing this photo. taxi Sep 28 #17

He could have gotten his speed heading west down McCandish Rd Kaleva Sep 28 #21

Veered right for sure kbowman Sep 28 #28

Accelerants were surely used.... SergeStorms Sep 28 #38

Both sides rushing to place blame on other side. Actual cause - most likely mental health and guns - totally forgotten. Silent Type Sep 28 #16

Bothsidesing this isn't valid. Crunchy Frog Sep 28 #29

Antifa truck for sure! Sancho Sep 28 #18

40-yr-old former Marine, Iraq war vet AverageOldGuy Sep 28 #19

Just outside of Flint ybbor Sep 28 #23

One American flag IbogaProject Sep 28 #27

Now I'm wondering if this isn't the same scenario Blue Full Moon Sep 28 #34

When will we decide against drawing conclusions based on limited information? Raven123 Sep 28 #20

Yup orangecrush Sep 28 #40

MURICA! Fuck yeah! USA, USA, USA! Maru Kitteh Sep 28 #25

The shooters house Blue Full Moon Sep 28 #31

What's with the stop sign? Is that part of the message? newdeal2 Sep 28 #37

License Plate also has the words Iraq Coldwater Sep 28 #32

These depraved idiots have tried to turn the stars and stripes Grim Chieftain Sep 28 #33

The flag on the left looks like the blue stripe flag supporting cops the MAGAs display. nt doc03 Sep 28 #35

This message was self-deleted by its author orangecrush Sep 28 #39

Was there no room for him to get out on the drivers side? vanlassie Sep 28 #41

That's a helluva fire for a mass murder. Any word on what caused that? Hekate Sep 28 #42

. dalton99a Sep 28 #44

If the Mormons were smart, they'd reconsider their ties to the Far Right Vogon_Glory Sep 28 #45