The suspect in Sunday's fatal shooting at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, had a sign displaying Donald Trump's name outside his home, public records show. Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, killed at least four worshippers and wounded eight before being shot dead by police.
President Trump responded to the attack, calling it 'another targeted attack on Christians' but said 'there is still a lot to learn' about the deceased suspect. His comments were notably more measured than those after the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk in Utah earlier this month.
Google Maps images from June show a blue sign with Trump's surname attached to a shed at Sanford's home in Burton, Michigan, about 15 minutes from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints he targeted. A Facebook photo also shows Sanford wearing a 'Re-elect Trump 2020' T-shirt with the slogan 'Make Liberals Cry Again'.
Investigations into the motive are ongoing, with state police cautioning against speculation. The FBI described the attack as 'an act of targeted violence' without providing further detail. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said investigators believe Sanford 'hated people of the Mormon faith' and are examining the extent of planning involved.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Sanford expressed negative views about Mormons to a local city council candidate, calling the religion 'the antichrist'. Candidate Kris Johns encountered Sanford while canvassing in September but said the conversation did not hint at violence.
Officials say Sanford drove a pick-up truck bearing two American flags through the church's front door, then opened fire with a rifle before setting the building alight. He was killed by police about eight minutes after the attack began at 10.25am. Records show Sanford signed petitions for a Republican-led effort to curb the governor's pandemic powers and an anti-abortion initiative, but his voter registration lists no party affiliation.
