Thomas Jacob Sanford: Inside heroic 8-minute operation to neutralize Grand Blanc church shooter
It took Grand Blanc police about 30 seconds to respond to the shooting in a church. Within 8 minutes, Thomas Jacob Sanford was neutralized.
It took Grand Blanc police about 30 seconds to respond to the shooting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, and about eight minutes to neutralize the suspect, Thomas Jacob Sanford. The 40-year-old Burton man opened fire inside the chapel during a Sunday service and then set the building on fire, killing at least two people and injuring several others. He died following a police pursuit, officials confirmed.
At the time of the shooting, hundreds of people were inside the church. Sanford rammed a four-door pickup with two American flags and started shooting, Police Chief William Renye told reporters. Investigators believe he “deliberately” set the building on fire, Renye said.
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The chief further revealed that officers responded to a 911 call and were at the church within 30 seconds. The shooter was killed about seven minutes later. Grand Blanc Township cops received the call of a shooting around 10:25 AM local time, police said.
Videos from the scene showed a massive fire in the church. It was put out soon, but left significant structural damage, photos showed. While officials said that Thomas Jacob Sanford set the fire deliberately, the motive behind the shooting is currently not known.
President Donald Trump said he has been briefed on the ‘horrendous’ shooting.
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“The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal Investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn,” he posted on Truth Social.
“This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!”
The shooting occurred the morning after Russell M. Nelson, the oldest-ever president of the Utah-based faith, died at 101. The next president is expected to be Dallin H. Oaks, per church protocol.
(With AP inputs)
