GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — The father of the man responsible for the deadly mass shooting and fire at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church in Michigan spoke out on Monday.
Officials say Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, drove his truck into the Grand Blanc Township church on Sunday morning, opening fire and setting the church on fire.
Four people were killed and eight were injured in the shooting and fire. Sanford was shot and killed by officers about eight minutes after the shooting began.
Latest on the deadly mass shooting and fire at Grand Blanc Twp. church:
Sanford's father, Tom, spoke briefly with WXYZ, the FOX 13 News affiliate in Detroit, saying: "I feel so bad about the families that were affected by this, aside from ours. We’re not the only ones going through this devastation. We are beside ourselves," he said in the statement.
According to ABC News, Thomas Jacob Sanford was a veteran of the Iraq War who served four years in the Marines from June 2004 through June 2008.
We're told that he worked in logistics and would repair equipment that had been damaged, sometimes under fire.
Grand Blanc Township Police Department Chief William Renye said the first 911 call came in at 10:25:32 a.m. and officers arrived on scene 25 seconds later. Renye said the suspect was killed around 10:33 a.m., about 8 minutes after the first 911 call.
Officials update Grand Blanc Township church shooting:
Police said they believe the church was also deliberately set on fire by the suspect. A spokesperson for the ATF said that there are indications that the suspect used an accelerant, believed to be gasoline, to start the fire. The spokesperson said they also found suspected explosive devices.
FBI Detroit Acting Special Agent in Charge Reuben Coleman said that the FBI has taken the lead on the investigation. He said they are investigating this incident as an act of targeted violence.
Officials are asking members of the public with any information to call them at 1-800-CALL-FBI or go to tips.fbi.gov.
