Grand Blanc church shooting: What’s known about suspected shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford

Grand Blanc, Mich. authorities are releasing more information after a shooting at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Sunday morning. 

The shooting happened just before 10:30 a.m. at the location on McCandlish Road. 

Here’s the latest information police are sharing about the suspect, who was identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford.

Grand Blanc church shooting

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Five people were killed, including the shooter, and eight others remain hospitalized after a shooting Sunday morning at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, according to police.

During the shooting, the suspect is believed to have intentionally set a fire that engulfed and destroyed the church. 

Suspect information 

What we know:

Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said during Sunday press conferences that the suspect was Thomas Jacob Sanford, a 40-year-old man from Burton, which is a neighboring city of Grand Blanc where the shooting took place. Grand Blanc is about 60 miles north of Detroit. 

Police sources earlier identified the shooter to FOX 2 and said he was a Marine veteran who spent time in Iraq. Images from social media accounts also suggest a military background, and include a photo showing a black ‘Marines’ beanie and wearing the Marines uniform.

Also according to those sources, he had a wife and a son. More details about him are expected later.

Renye said the suspect was killed in a shootout in the parking lot with responding officers, and it’s believed the suspect acted alone with an assault rifle. Renye said the suspect first rammed his vehicle through the front doors of the church, got out and began shooting at the parishioners before "deliberately" starting a fire. 

During a Monday press conference, Renye said Sanford had been arrested in the past for burglary and OWI. 

What we don't know:

Exact details of how the suspect started the fire were also not known, but an ATF official said Sunday night that it's believed the suspect used gasoline. Suspected explosive devices were located at the scene, but officials couldn’t say yet if they were used to help start the fire.

Law enforcement officials also haven't spoken yet on a possible motive. 

What's next:

"We're going to do search warrants at the suspect's residence. We're going to find out if there was a motive. We're going to go through cell phone records, things like that," Renye said Sunday. 

What they're saying:

Parishioner Brian Taylor spoke with FOX 2 at the scene after being shot at in his vehicle. His hand was injured by shrapnel from the windshield, though he, his wife, and son are OK otherwise. 

"None of us recognized this guy," Taylor said. "He came (inside) in camo pants and (with) an assault rifle." 

Taylor said church had started at 10 a.m. and it was nearing communion time when everyone heard a loud bang. Taylor saw the front wall of the church was cracked, and assumed some sort of accident happened. 

"We started rushing out to go help, and as soon as I saw the American flags on the truck, and somebody yelled it was on purpose, I tried to get people out of the area and disperse away," he shared.