Father of Michigan Church Shooting Suspect Thomas Jacob Sanford Breaks Silence

A quiet Michigan town was ripped apart after a horrifying act of calculated carnage shattered the sanctity of a local church and left four people dead. Now, the suspect's own father is speaking out in anguished disbelief.

Thomas Sanford, father of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the man suspected of carrying out the deadly shooting and arson attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Burton, Michigan, broke his silence on September 29, 2025, in a heart-wrenching statement.

Grieving Father Speaks of Shock as FBI Probes Church Massacre

In the exclusive statement given to NBC News, he said his family is "completely in shock" and has no explanation for the massacre that has stunned the tight-knit community. In his grief-stricken plea, the suspect's father also expressed condolences to the victims and the community, asking for privacy as they grapple with the loss of their own son and the devastation he wrought.

As the FBI takes the lead in the investigation, Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman declared the massacre an act of "targeted violence." Yet the motive behind the senseless rampage remains maddeningly elusive as agents are still searching for a motive.

Meanwhile, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer also implored the public not to jump to conclusions. "At this juncture, speculation is unhelpful and it can be downright dangerous," the governor warned at a press conference.

A Friendly Chat Turns Dark

Even casual acquaintances were rattled by Thomas's chilling shift in demeanor. Kris Johns, a Burton city council candidate, told CNN he had a brief but alarming run-in with the suspect just a week before the tragedy. What began as a polite conversation quickly took a disturbing turn.

A few minutes into what had been a friendly conversation, Kris recalled, the suspect abruptly asked, "What do you think about guns?" and "What do you know about Mormons?"

The city council candidate also said the once-friendly tone quickly twisted into hostile rhetoric, culminating in the suspect spewing inflammatory language about his hatred of the church.

Friends and a Coworker Struggle to Reconcile the Man They Knew

To those who knew him personally, the transformation of Thomas into a suspected mass killer is utterly bewildering. Kara Pattison, a longtime friend, described him as a cheerful, family-oriented man, but admitted he held concerning prejudices beneath the surface.

"He definitely talked about groups of people in ways that weren't acceptable," she said. Kara further revealed that just two days before the rampage, she and her 16-year-old daughter, Lydia, were nearly run down by a truck — driven by the suspect himself.

The teenager, who had previously babysat the suspect's young son, said her world was shattered. "I was devastated," she said. "I didn't think someone that I knew and loved would do this to people. It's devastating. It's so bad."

Former coworkers offered a strikingly different portrait of the man now accused of orchestrating a church bloodbath. Garry Reynolds Jr., who worked alongside Thomas at a Coca-Cola distribution center in Flint, said the suspect was once lighthearted, loving, and deeply devoted to his family.

"He was hilarious," the colleague added. "That's why we're all so stunned, because he was this really good guy. This was a guy that [sic] planted sunflowers. He had a large field of sunflowers. They'd all come up at once, and he would let people come and take pictures in his field, just because it made people happy."

Inside the Church Horror That Shook a Nation

The unthinkable act of violence unfolded on September 28, 2025. According to police, the suspect rammed his truck into the church, opened fire, and then set the building on fire. Flames engulfed the structure, but local fire crews managed to extinguish the blaze within an hour.

According to a report, the death toll from the church shooting has risen to four after police searched the charred remains of the building.

The U.S. Marine Corps confirmed that the suspect served as a Marine from 2004 to 2008, completing multiple combat deployments to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He held positions as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator, ending his service at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

The political world was quick to respond to the horrifying tragedy. President Donald Trump addressed the public on Truth Social, writing, "This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do."

Trump confirmed the FBI's involvement and emphasized their coordination with state and local law enforcement. He added, "In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!"

Vice President J. D. Vance also expressed his heartbreak, calling the massacre deeply troubling and assuring the public that the administration was monitoring developments while standing firmly with the victims and first responders.

As investigators continue combing through the ashes of the ruined church, the town of Grand Blanc is left mourning lives lost, grappling with the collapse of a familiar face into unthinkable violence, and waiting for clarity that may never come.

For now, sorrow overshadows speculation, and a community bound by faith and family is left to pick up the pieces in the wake of devastation.