Man who attacked Michigan church became unhinged' when talking about Mormon faith

"The man who shot up a Michigan church and set a fire that killed four people was a former U.S. Marine who expressed animosity about the Mormon faith to a city council candidate knocking on doors just days before the attack. Thomas Sanford, who was known as Jake, drove a pickup truck with a deer skull and antlers strapped to the front and two large American flags flapping in the wind in the bed, according to friends and social media posts."

"Sanford, 40, smashed that truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township. He was killed by police officers who rushed to the scene Sunday, 60 miles (80 kilometers) northwest of Detroit. The building was destroyed. Kris Johns, a council candidate in Burton, said he met Sanford while introducing himself to voters last week. He told MLive.com that Sanford was pleasant but became unhinged when he suddenly began talking about the Mormon church, as it is widely known."

Thomas Sanford, 40, a former U.S. Marine, drove a pickup with a deer skull and antlers on the front and two large American flags in the bed, then rammed the vehicle into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township. Sanford opened fire and set the building ablaze, killing four people; he was killed by police officers who rushed to the scene. The chapel was destroyed. A council candidate said Sanford had expressed animosity toward the Mormon faith days earlier and mentioned tattoos and the temple sealing ceremony. Authorities and the FBI executed warrants to search Sanford's vehicles, home and electronic devices to determine motives.

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