[Ammi]

…just adding to Maru’s articles…

Michigan Mormon church shooting latest: Suspect killed by police identified as former US marine Thomas Jacob Sanford…


Four people were killed and at least eight injured after a gunman rammed his car into a Mormon church in Michigan before opening fire on the churchgoers, police said.

The shooting took place at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, about 50 miles north of Detroit, at 10:25 a.m. Sunday, Grand Blanc police said.

The suspected gunman was Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, who was subsequently killed, Grand Blanc Township police chief William Renye said.
Officials say seven of the victims are in stable condition while one is critical.

After crashing into the church, the gunman opened fire on the hundreds of people, including children, gathered inside.

A fire broke out soon after, which police said Sanford started with an “accelerant” believed to be gasoline. Explosive devices were also found.

Authorities said they shot the gunman, a former US Marine, in the car park and that there was no ongoing threat to the public. A motive was not known, and authorities warned there could be more victims.


https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-b2835337.html

[arista]

The latest is 5 are Dead, now



Photo of the killer Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ord-trump.html

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by arista

The latest is 5 are Dead, now



Photo of the killer Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ord-trump.html

…so not a ‘loner type person’…he had a wife/partner and child(ren)…that seems more unusual as a profile for a mass killing such as this…?…

[arista]

Originally Posted by Ammi

…so not a ‘loner type person’…he had a wife/partner and child(ren)…that seems more unusual as a profile for a mass killing such as this…?…

Yes, it becomes worse

[Maru]

DM and local media picked up on the Kris Johns connection:



Thomas Jacob Sanford's chilling confession a week before Michigan Mormon church shooting
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...on-attack.html

Local article the DM are referencing:

Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS tirade, political candidate said
https://www.freep.com/story/news/loc...e/86415139007/

The man was outgoing, polite, and "extremely friendly," Johns said. And his animosity toward the church didn't seem violent, he said — “it was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook.”

When Johns made the connection, he contacted authorities and said he spoke to Michigan State Police and the FBI.

While others have been quick to shoo Johns off their properties while he was making his rounds on Sept. 22 canvassing for a seat on city council, Sanford was different, he said.

Sanford shook his hand, thanked Johns for stopping by. They talked about their children — Johns' daughter has special needs, and he said Sanford told him his child has a serious health condition. Sanford asked Johns what he thought about guns, and the city councilmember-hopeful responded that he supports the second amendment.

He said Sanford spoke quickly — "it was one thing after another" — as he shared about his time in Iraq and his struggles with drug addiction when he returned home. Johns said Sanford told him he moved to Utah at one point to plow snow and had a relationship with a woman there whose family was Mormon.

Sanford was married. Property records show he took out a mortgage with his wife in 2021 at the house on East Atherton in Burton. He bought the house in 2016.

Johns said Sanford asked him if he believed in God. He responded, "yes." Johns said he's Christian and a member of Solid Rock Community Church in Burton.

“From there, the conversation takes a very sharp turn," Johns said.

He said Sanford began asking him open-ended questions about Mormonism, first asking how Johns felt about the religion. And the more questions Sanford asked on the topic, the more pointed they became, Johns said. He said Sanford asked him about the Mormon bible, the role Jesus plays in the religion, the history of the LDS church and Joseph Smith Jr., the founder of Mormonism and the LDS movement.

Mormons is a term used for members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In Michigan, about 1% of American adults identify as Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, according to the Pew Research's 2023-24 U.S. Religious Landscape Study. Nationally, that's 2% of adults. The majority, 69%, live in the west, predominantly in Utah, where the church's global headquarters established in Salt Lake City in the mid-19th century.

“I just didn't know what the next question was going to be," Johns said.

But Johns said everything Sanford asked him about Mormonism led to Sanford declaring the religion as "the antichrist."

Their conversation never delved into politics or current events, Johns said — "there was no mention of anything right or left, blue or red.”

But Johns did say he spotted a Trump 2024 sign on the suspect's fence.

I doubt this was planned in a short period of time, but I feel for the dude because he probably feels he might've incidentally played into this guy's mindset with their chat.

[emseateng2014]

i wonder what the right wing media are gonna say if they find out that the killer was a republican

[Maru]

Four IEDs found in Grand Blanc Church shooter's pickup truck, ATF says
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/fou...truck-atf-says

GRAND BLANC TWP, Mich. (FOX 2) - Officials confirmed on Monday that the man who crashed into the Grand Blank Township Church of Latter-Day Saints with his pickup before firing on the crowd, had loaded the truck with explosive devices.

The ATF confirmed to FOX 2 on Monday that there were four IEDs found in the man's truck after it crashed into the church on Monday.

The IEDS were made of consumer grade fireworks and smoke canisters stuck together – but what they were used for is still unclear. It's also not clear if they were modified in any way.

[Maru]

Michigan church shooting: Whitmer says to 'lower the temperature of rhetoric'
https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/mic...ature-rhetoric

• Governor Gretchen Whitmer wants to bring down the rhetoric after a church mass shooting.
• Whitmer said speculation can be dangerous in the aftermath of the Grand Blanc Township tragedy.
• The governor said like many she has questions, but urged the public to let law enforcement do their job.

...

"At this juncture, speculation is unhelpful and it can be downright dangerous," she said. "So, I just ask that people lower the temperature of rhetoric, keep your loved ones close, and keep this community close to your hearts."

Police said on Monday that all people at the LDS church had been accounted for, while the ATF is warning those who live in the area or attend the church to avoid it while the investigation continues.

Sanford used an accelerant after ramming his pickup truck into the church, intentionally setting the fire which engulfed the structure.

Whitmer said as a state, we know the pain of a mass shooting aftermath all too well.

"This might be a familiar pain, but it hurts all the same every time. We cannot keep living our lives like this," she said. "I know that this community is reeling right now, and I want you to know that the state of Michigan has your back."

...

Whitmer said the soft-target nature of the nation's mass shooting incidents is disturbing.

"I'm also here as a fellow Michigander whose heart is breaking by another mass shooting in a place that is supposed to be defined by togetherness and a close-knit community," Whitmer said. "We've seen gun violence in our schools, stores, parades, festivals and our houses of worship. These are places that we go to feel connected, to feel safe, to be together."

The governor thanked first responders and police for their brave actions in the moments following the chaotic attack.

"I know that in the hours and days ahead, we will see the best of Michigan - we will see neighbors being neighborly, checking in with a call, bringing over some food, or offering a hug," she said. "We'll see. Medical providers work hard to save lives and treat those in need with scars, both seen and unseen.

"We will see this congregation unite and rally together like never before and continue worshiping together, singing together and serving together because that's who Michiganders are."

Good on her, honestly.

[Barry.]

Shocking. Isn’t this like the 3rd shooting in a few days? And they say guns aren’t the problem

[emseateng2014]

lol try explaning that to the right wing republicans

in my opinion most of the right wingers will just use the have the rights speeches and act like they know almost every single thing about law and order and the constatutions and amentments like they been to multi usa law schools for 30 to 90 years depending on how old they are and think they have like multi pds and degrees

Originally Posted by Barry.

Shocking. Isn’t this like the 3rd shooting in a few days? And they say guns aren’t the problem

[Livia]

Originally Posted by emseateng2014

lol try explaning that to the right wing republicans

in my opinion most of the right wingers will just use the have the rights speeches and act like they know almost every single thing about law and order and the constatutions and amentments like they been to multi usa law schools for 30 to 90 years depending on how old they are and think they have like multi pds and degrees

You don't know too many right wing people, do you. Nor many Americans.

[emseateng2014]

nope lol but i have seen the news and the left wingers do talk about the right wingers

heck i even red the usa news stuff on here lol

Originally Posted by Livia

You don't know too many right wing people, do you. Nor many Americans.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by emseateng2014

nope lol but i have seen the news and the left wingers do talk about the right wingers

heck i even red the usa news stuff on here lol

I think there are more people near the middle ground who are just to the Left or just to the Right of it. News tends to make everyone look Far Left or Far Right. If you believe the news, or even a lot of the stuff that's written on here, you'd end up believing everyone is a Stalinist or a Nazi.

[Maru]

A member of the LDS setup a fundraiser to take care of shooter's wife and child.

They have already raised $150K of the $200K goal.


Link: https://www.givesendgo.com/helptheSa...eSanfordfamily

Help the Sanford Family

My name is Dave. Like all of you, I was shocked by the murders at the LDS chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan, on September 28. Multiple families were left grievously wounded and in need of help.

One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter. Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving. They 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. In the past, the family attempted to raise funds for him, but with limited success.

I have no connection to the Sanfords or to Grand Blanc. I am an ordinary member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm a fantasy and science fiction writer, and if you know me at all, it's probably because you've seen me on an LDS YouTube channel such as the Stick of Joseph or Ward Radio.

But James teaches us that "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction." The purpose of this GiveSendGo is to do that. Every donation will go to help provide for the Sanford family daily needs, provide for ongoing medical treatment, and create some stability in a time of heartbreak and upheaval.

Thank you for your kindness, your compassion, and your willingness to lift up those who are suffering.

[emseateng2014]

well the news stuff that are on here are mostly links of other sites that do coverages and reports

and oh yeah theres the center who are both left and right

whats next somebody starts a up wing and a down wing

Originally Posted by Livia

I think there are more people near the middle ground who are just to the Left or just to the Right of it. News tends to make everyone look Far Left or Far Right. If you believe the news, or even a lot of the stuff that's written on here, you'd end up believing everyone is a Stalinist or a Nazi.