Authorities have identified Thomas Jacob “Jake” Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan, as the man who drove a pickup truck into a church in Grand Blanc on Sunday, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the building ablaze. Four people were killed and eight others injured before Sanford died in an exchange of gunfire with police.
Police have not determined a motive. The FBI is leading the investigation and is treating the incident as “targeted violence.” Officials are urging the public to share tips by calling 1-800-FBI TIPS or visiting tips.fbi.gov.
Sanford was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 2004 to 2008, with deployments in Japan and Iraq. He rose to the rank of sergeant and was recognized for his marksmanship, according to past local news reports.
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On Sunday evening, heavy law enforcement presence was reported outside Sanford’s home in Burton. A bomb squad vehicle, police cruisers, and an ambulance were stationed on the blocked street as officers searched the property.
Sanford’s young son was diagnosed at birth with congenital hyperinsulinism, a rare condition. In 2016, Sanford and his wife sought specialized treatment at a Texas hospital after struggling to find a diagnosis.
Sanford was also described by relatives as an avid hunter and fisherman, often pictured in camouflage with deer and fish.
While Sanford’s broader political beliefs are unclear, he was photographed in a Trump 2020 campaign T-shirt and a “Trump-Pence” sign was visible outside his home in a 2021 Google Street View image.
