- Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, identified as suspect in Michigan meetinghouse shooting.
- Sanford, a Marine veteran, opened fire inside a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and set the building ablaze, killing at least two people and injuring eight others.
- Authorities found Sanford dead after exchanging gunfire with police at scene.
GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Police in Grand Blanc, Michigan, identified the man suspected of fatally shooting two people and wounding eight others at a Latter-day Saint meetinghouse as Thomas Jacob Sanford.
Sanford, 40, is from Burton, Michigan, about 8 miles from Grand Blanc, said Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye. According to news reports in Michigan, Sanford was a Marine veteran who served in Iraq 20 years ago and has a wife and son.
Authorities have not specified a motive for the attack.
Police say the suspect rammed a Chevrolet Silverado through the front of the Latter-day Saint meetinghouse during services, began shooting and then intentionally set a fire that engulfed the building. Police believe there might be more victims in the building.
The suspect was killed in the parking lot after exchanging gunfire with officers who responded quickly to the scene, Renye said.
Who is Thomas Jacob Sanford?
According to a 2007 Clarkston News article, Sanford is a native of Atlas Township in Genesee County, Michigan, and graduated from Goodrich High School in 2003. Grand Blanc and Burton, where Sanford lived before the shooting, are in Genesee County. He is identified as Thomas "Jake" Sanford in the story.
As a 22-year-old Marine, he was a wrecker driver who assisted in the recovery of damaged vehicles and had done a stint in Okinawa, Japan. He has achieved honors on the rifle range, according to the story. At the time the article was published, he was set to join his combat battalion and serve in Fallujah, Iraq.
'I'm excited to go," Sanford said during a gathering at his home, per the story. "I'm looking forward to seeing the culture and the people of Iraq. I'll return with the real news of the situation. There are many changes we are making in the Middle East. We are making progress. The citizens of Iraq are beginning to step up."
A Marine Corps spokesperson told CNN that Sanford served as a sergeant and received several medals for his service, which lasted from 2004 to 2008.
CNN also reported that Sanford's son was born with a rare genetic disorder, according to 2015 GoFundMe page. The condition, called congenital hyperinsulinism, required a lengthy hospital stay and several surgeries to remove portions of the pancreas, according to a family Facebook page.
One local news outlet reported that the illness had a financial toll on the family, and Sanford took leave from work as a truck driver for Coca-Cola to be with his son, per CNN.
"Don't ever take having healthy kids for granted," Sanford is quoted as saying in another article. "We are proud of our child. I spent four years in the Marine Corps and was in Iraq, and this is still the most unique thing to deal with."
What's known about the shooting victims
Initial reports said that one person had died and nine were injured as a result of the gunfire.
Renye later said a second person died at a local hospital. Seven shooting victims are in stable condition, and one is in critical condition, he said in a brief 3 p.m. press conference.
He later said two other victims were found dead in the church, bringing the total to four. He didn't say how those two people died. The building was consumed by fire.
Authorities said they believe they might find other victims inside the building.
"There was a large fire and we do believe that there (were) people up there that were near that fire, and they were unable to get out of the church," Renye said.
Multiple victims injured in the shooting and fire are being treated at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital, a hospital spokesperson said, per NBC News.
"Our hearts go out to our patients, their families, and the community — including the people worshipping when the tragic act of violence occurred," according to the hospital. "Our hospital is fully staffed with experienced caregivers, and we are grateful to our team members who continue to care for all our patients at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital."
