Michigan church shooting latest: FBI search for motive as details emerge of suspect’s relationship with Mormon woman – UK Times

The Grand Blanc Police Department has shared community resources that are available for people impacted by the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The “Family Assistance Center,” which is located at the Genesys Banquet and Conference Center, is providing victim advocacy, counseling and emotional support and referrals to other community resources, according to a flyer shared by the police department.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has brought in its National Response Team to investigate the shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

ATF Special Agent in Charge James Deir described the team as “world-renowned investigators for arson and explosive incidents” who have traveled from all over the country at a press conference on Monday.

This comes after officials announced they recovered improvised explosive devices after the attack.

Officials continue to investigate the attack, and have yet to publicly confirm the suspect’s motive.

Kris Johns, a candidate for city council in Burton, Michigan, says he met suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford while campaigning last week.

During their conversation, Sanford expressed prejudice toward the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and called its members “the antichrist,” Johns said.

Watch below as Johns recalls their conversation:

Beckie Swainston told The New York Times her son and grandson were both injured in Sunday’s shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

Her son, Ben Phelps, was shot in the abdomen, she said. His current condition is unclear.

His six-year-old son was also shot in the arm and has since been released from the hospital, Swainston said.

Suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford’s young son has a rare genetic disorder, which took a financial toll on the family, CNN reports.

Sanford’s son was born with hyperinsulinism, a rare disorder that caused the pancreas to produce too much insulin. His treatment required multiple hospital stays and surgeries to remove parts of his pancreas, according to CNN.

A GoFundMe page launched in 2015 asked for funds to help the family cover their son’s medical expenses.

Ryan Lopez, a Michigan resident who attended high school with suspected gunman Thomas Jacob Sanford, told The New York Times he ran into the 40-year-old at the gym just a few weeks before the shooting.

“He was happy to see me,” Lopez said of Sanford, who was killed in a shootout with police. “He just seemed normal.”

Lopez said Sanford enjoyed hunting and grew up like a typical “country kid.” Lopez noted that they both joined the Marines after high school. Sanford served from 2004 to 2008, and was deployed to Iraq in 2007.

Sanford’s father, Thomas Sanford, told the Detroit Free Press that his son worked with vehicles while enlisted.

“He came back. I’m glad he came back in one piece,” he said. “He was in logistics. He drove a wrecker and went out and picked up vehicles. One time, he was under fire but most of the time he was fine.”

Jon Stewart lashed out against the media’s “left-right blame game” as he discussed the deadly Michigan church shooting on Monday’s episode of The Daily Show.

Owen Scott has the story:

Law enforcement officials praised the “heroes” who sprang into action when gunfire broke out at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.

“I will tell you that there are noble heroes who do not wear a uniform that went to that church [on Sunday],” Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson said at a press conference on Monday.

“I will tell you this: those heroes from that church did their job,” he added.

It has since been revealed that two fourth-year emergency residents at the nearby Henry Ford Genesys Hospital were present at the church and helped others in the midst of the attack, despite being victims themselves.

A GoFundMe page identified them as Jared Hicken and S Bridger Hampton.

“Not only were they victims, but they also sprang into action, helping others amidst danger, smoke, and confusion,” the page reads.

Thomas Jacob Sanford previously lived in Utah and dated a woman there who was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The New York Times reports.

They fell in love, but the relationship ended painfully, according to the outlet.

When Sanford returned to Michigan after the relationship, he was “in rough shape,” his friend, Peter Tersigni, told the Times.

Sandra Winter, who rented a room to Sanford in Utah, also told the Times that he had dated an “extremely religious” woman and that he felt pressure to join the church.

“He wasn’t so sure that he wanted to become a member of the church,” she said. “But he really wanted to be with this woman.”