Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS tirade, political candidate said

[tblue37]

https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/09/29/thomas-jacob-sanford-michigan-shooting-suspect-anti-lds-tirade/86415139007

Michigan church shooting suspect went on anti-LDS tirade, political candidate said
Andrea May Sahouri
Clara Hendrickson
Detroit Free Press

When Burton City Council candidate Kris Johns heard that someone shot churchgoers and burned down the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sept. 28 in nearby Grand Blanc, he said not once did he think it was the man he spoke to while canvassing less than a week prior who went on a tirade against the church and described Mormons as "the antichrist."

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.”

Snip

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.

Snip

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

Snip

[tblue37]

1. He had Trump memorabilia, including wearing an anti-liberal T-shirt.

The suspect, Thomas Sanford, seemed to own Donald Trump memorabilia, with a campaign sign outside his house and a Facebook photo wearing a shirt that reads “Re-elect Trump 2020,” and “Make liberals cry again.”

However, local authorities and the FBI have not yet identified a motive. trib.al/0UwICcz

— The New Republic (@newrepublic.com) 2025-09-29T15:22:55.517710Z

Yet Trump and the rabid right will insist he is a radical leftist, & Trump has already said this was an attack on Christianity, when it was an attack BY a Christian on what he considered an enemy OF Christianity.

[tblue37]

3. Immediately after the Michigan shooting, Trump implied the shooter was an anti-Christian leftist.

via @micaherfan.com

Immediately after the Michigan shooting, Trump implied the shooter was an anti-Christian leftist.

We now know the background of the shooter.

Here he is wearing a “Make Liberals Cry Again” shirt:

— jen sometimes aph 🌻 (@bunnibytz.bsky.social) 2025-09-29T14:30:51.601Z

[tblue37]

2. And the FBI can't identify a motive. (I can easily guess one.)

[LeftinOH]

4. Evangelicals/Fundies do not like Mormons...even MAGA-Mormons.

The Evangelical base's dislike of Mormons may have had a lot to do with Obama winning a 2nd term; the base really couldn't stand the idea of Mormon Mitt Romney being President.

[Wounded Bear]

5. Was about to come on and post this...

Mormons are not "Christian" enough for Talibangelists.

[617Blue]

6. Someone tell CNN - they are having a hard time reporting the truth

[bif]

7. DUPE

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220683671