GRAND BLANC, MI – The gunman who carried out the attack on a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Michigan last September did so after calling 911, according to new information released. Thomas Jacob Sanford reportedly called emergency services to report a bomb threat against churches in the area minutes before ramming his truck into the LDS chapel and shooting several congregants.
According to documents released to ABC News by Grand Blanc Township Police, Sanford phoned in to report a bomb threat about area churches less than four minutes before carrying out his attack at the Mormon church. Records show Sanford’s GPS location as less than a mile from the chapel he attacked at the time of the 911 call.
“The male did not make any comments towards the specific church located at 4285 McCandlish Road,” the new report reads. “In the background audio of the 911 call, the possible sound of the exhaust of a vehicle can be heard while the male is speaking, as if the male was traveling in a vehicle while making the 911 bomb threat call.”
Thomas Jacob Sanford drove his truck into a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel on the morning of September 28, 2025. Eight individuals were injured, and four congregants died in the attack.
One of the victims told officers she heard “a loud bang” about fifteen to twenty minutes into the service. Shortly after hearing the noise come from outside the chapel towards the front of the building, the woman remembered being told to evacuate. She was in the process of leaving when she was shot in the leg.
Another man who attended the service with his wife, son-in-law, and grandchildren recalled seeing the gunman when they exited the building.
“The shooter was in a squatting position and walking, holding the rifle with both hands at a low ready and actively firing shots at him,” the congregant shared. The gunman was “wearing a mask and dressed in Camo fatigues” while “walking like a monkey,” according to the eyewitness.
Thomas Jacob Sanford was a veteran who moved to Utah after fighting the war in Iraq. Family friends blamed the tragedy on his move to Utah.
“I believe that if Jake never went to Utah, none of this would have ever happened. 1000%,” Francis Tersigni told the press.
“I know three things,” Peter Tersigni, twin brother of Francis, shared. “He (Thomas) moved to Utah. He started dating this girl and then investigated and learned about Mormons because she was a Mormon.”
“And I know that also, he got into meth really hardcore. It messed his life up, and it messed his head up. And it just happened to be at the time he was around Mormons.”