On Sunday, September 28th, 2025, a man drove his pickup truck through the doors of a local meeting house for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The shooter proceeded into the chapel, where hundreds were worshiping, and opened fire on the congregation. Then, he set the building on fire. When police arrived at the scene, the shooter was shot dead during a confrontation outside. Four members of the church were killed and eight were injured, with the FBI identifying the attack as “an act of targeted violence.” The suspect was later identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford. Law enforcement is reportedly conducting a search of his property and examining his mobile phone records. According to White House Press Secretary Katherine Leavitt, Sanford was a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq. President Donald Trump referred to the attack as “yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America.” However, the Daily Beast reported that a “Trump Vance 2024” campaign sign was found outside of Sanford’s home.
After the gruesome event, the people of the Church have responded in a surprising manner. A member by the name of David Butler living in Utah started a fundraiser for Sanford’s widow and children, which is currently sitting around $380,000. The original goal was set for $10,000, but it has since been raised to $500,000 as donations have flooded the site. In the description of the fundraiser Butler wrote, “The family will face financial hardship and psychological trauma as a result of this week’s horrifying events … On top of that, one of the Sanford sons deals with serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support.” He later stated that all of the funds would go towards their daily needs and medical treatment.
As the days rolled by, positivity and support continued to flow. One donor wrote “God loves you and your family and I wish I could give you a big hug,” another, “The members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints love ALL of you and hope you are able to heal with them.” These actions were so unexpected by the victims of an attack, that many expressed outright shock online. People are mainly questioning the morality of donating to the suspect’s family before the victims’, though the collective total of fundraisers for the victims is nearly $600,000.
