The father of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the suspected gunman behind the Michigan church shooting on Sunday, Sept. 28, has broken his silence, expressing shock and devastation over the tragedy.
Sanford’s father, also named Thomas Sanford, described the family as “completely in shock” and said they are struggling to process the alleged actions of his son, which left four dead and eight injured at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Father of Michigan church shooting suspect speaks out
“We are completely in shock over this; we have no answers,” Thomas Sanford said in a statement shared with NBC News, adding: "We are asking for privacy as we grieve our loss and those of the others."
Authorities have confirmed that Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, entered the church in the morning hours of Sept. 28, opening fire on more than 100 worshippers before allegedly setting the building on fire.
He was killed at the scene during a shootout with law enforcement.
“The FBI is now leading the investigation and is investigating this as an act of targeted violence,” FBI Special Agent Reuben Coleman said, according to NBC News.
Two officers were involved in the confrontation, one from the Department of Natural Resources and another from Grand Blanc Township, police confirmed during a CNN-aired press conference.
Details on the suspect and the attack
Grand Blanc Fire Department extinguished the fire, which authorities say was deliberately set by Sanford. The suspect lived approximately six miles from the church.
A former U.S. Marine who left service in 2008, Thomas Jacob Sanford received multiple military awards, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and National Defense Service Medal, PEOPLE details.
Sanford was married and had a 10-year-old son, reportedly born in 2015, who was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Congenital Hyperinsulinism.
The condition required a prolonged hospital stay and multiple surgeries to remove parts of the child’s pancreas, according to CNN and posts from a since-deleted family Facebook page.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive and the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
The FBI, local law enforcement, and fire officials are all actively involved, but many details remain under review as the community grapples with the aftermath of the violence.