The gunman who killed four worshippers and wounded eight others at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, on Sunday had a Donald Trump sign outside his home, according to public records. Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, was shot dead by police after the attack.
Google Maps images from June show a blue sign bearing Trump's name attached to a shed at Sanford's home in Burton, Michigan, about 15 minutes from the church. A family photo on Facebook also shows Sanford wearing a 'Re-elect Trump 2020' T-shirt with the slogan 'Make Liberals Cry Again'.
President Trump responded to the shooting on his Truth Social platform, calling it 'another targeted attack on Christians'. However, his comments were more measured than after the killing of activist Charlie Kirk in Utah, when he blamed the 'radical left'.
Authorities are investigating the motive. State police warned against speculation, while the FBI described it as 'an act of targeted violence'. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the FBI believes Sanford 'hated people of the Mormon faith'.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Sanford had made negative comments about Mormons to a local city council candidate, calling the religion 'the antichrist'. Officials say Sanford rammed a pickup truck with American flags through the church door, fired a rifle, and set the building ablaze before being killed by police.
Voter records show no party affiliation for Sanford, as is typical in Michigan's open primaries. However, he reportedly signed petitions to repeal pandemic emergency powers and restrict abortion, according to a Democratic consultant.
