GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich.ā Investigators were focusing on what motivated a former Marine to ram a pickup truck into the sanctuary of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan and open fire during a crowded service, killing at least four people while setting the building ablaze.
Crews continued searching for victims in the charred rubble Monday as authorities said āsomeā people were unaccounted for following theĀ Sunday morning attackĀ that wounded eight others in Grand Blanc Township, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of Detroit.
The FBI considered the attack ā the second on an American church in little over a month ā an āact of targeted violence,ā said Ruben Coleman, a special agent in charge for the bureau.
Authorities identified the shooter as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of the neighboring town of Burton. Investigators deployed a robot while searching Sanfordās residence Sunday but did not say what they found or provide any additional details about him, including whether he had any connection to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, widely known as the Mormon church.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said investigators were looking into how much planning went into the attack and whether any cluse about the motive were left behind.
āFrom what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith,ā she said Monday during an interview on Fox News Channelās āFox and Friends.ā
Searching for more victims
Crews in white coveralls and hard hats searched through what remained of the church on Monday morning. A silver pickup truck with two American flags in the back remained where it had smashed into the front brick wall near a sign that says āvisitors welcome.ā
Across the street, there was an SUV with apparent bullet holes in the windshield and driver window.
The attacker apparently used gas to start the fire and also had explosive devices but it wasnāt clear if he used them, said James Dier of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Officers responding to a 911 call were at the church within a minute, said Township Police Chief William Renye. The suspect was killed while exchanging gunfire with two officers, the chief said.
Flames and smoke poured from the church for hours. The fire gutted nearly all of the building, consuming its towering white steeple and sanctuary ā only its outer walls and a few side rooms remained standing.
Two bodies were found in the debris, and Renye said on Sunday more victims could be found but he did not have an exact number of those missing.
One of the wounded people was in critical condition Sunday evening and the seven others were stable.
Suspect was deployed to Iraq
According to records released by the Marine Corps, Sanford served for four years during the early years of the global war on terror. He enlisted in 2004 and was discharged in 2008 at the rank of sergeant. He deployed once to Iraq for seven months and was awarded a Good Conduct Medal, indicating three years of service without any major infractions.
The shooting was the latest ofĀ several attacksĀ on houses of worship in the U.S. over the past 20 years, including one in August that killed two children at theĀ Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis.
It also was the second mass shooting in the U.S. in less than 24 hours. On Saturday night,Ā a man in a boat opened fireĀ on a crowd in Southport, North Carolina, killing three and injuring five.
President Donald Trump asked for prayers for the victims and their families. āTHIS EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!ā Trump wrote on social media.
The shooting occurred a day afterĀ Russell M. Nelson, theĀ oldest-ever presidentĀ of the Utah-based faith, died at 101.
āPlaces of worship are meant to be sanctuaries of peacemaking, prayer and connection,ā spokesperson Doug Anderson said. āWe pray for peace and healing for all involved.ā
The shootingās impact spread throughout the area
Brandt Malone, a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints who was attending services at a different church Sunday morning, said his congregation was evacuated when they heard about the attack.
āEveryoneās in a state of shock right now,ā he said, adding he knows quite a few people who were in the Grand Blanc church. āWe view church and our worship services really as a sanctuary.ā
Grand Blanc Community Schools were closed Monday to āallow time for families to process and mourn this tragedy with their children,ā Superintendent Trevor Alward said in a letter. āThis act of violence is reprehensible.ā
About 100 people gathered for a prayer service Sunday evening at a nondenominational Christian church in Grand Blanc. Many bowed their heads and some cried softly.
āWe live in days that are difficult and troubled, days that are weary and tiring,ā said Pastor Chuck Lindsey. āWeāre exhausted by the evil, weāre exhausted by these things. But Lord, you are our refuge.ā
