Thomas Joshua Sanford Michigan LDS church shooter called Mormons ‘the anti-Christ’ days before attack in charged tirade against the religion according to Kris Johns, Burton local

The Michigan LDS church shooter, who killed at least four people and injured eight more, is accused of calling Mormons 'the anti-Christ' just days before carrying out the Sunday attack.

On Sunday morning, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, slammed his pickup truck into the Grand Blanc Township church before setting fire to it.

The former Marine was fatally shot by police in the church parking lot.

Nearly a week before the attack on the Mormon-affiliated church, Kris Johns, a city council candidate, said he had a grim talk with Sanford.

Nearly a week before the attack on the Mormon-affiliated church, Kris Johns, a city council candidate, said he had a grim talk with Sanford.

Johns, who was canvasing the neighborhood at the time, told the Detroit Free Press about the interaction he had with Sanford after he recognized his picture on the news following the incident. 

Thomas Joshua Sanford Michigan LDS church shooter

‘It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook,’ Johns said of Burton.

Johns, 44, said Sanford shared his struggles with drug addiction after he moved back to the states following his time in the service. Sanford was a highly decorated military veteran who’d served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008.

Sanford resided in Utah, a state with strong Mormon ties, and was in a relationship with a woman who belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Stanford asked Johns if he believed in God, to which he replied, "it was one thing after another."

Johns, a Christian and member of the Solid Rock Community Church in Burton, said 'yes' to Sandford, adding, 'From there, the conversation takes a pretty fast turn.'

According to Johns, Sanford then asked him about the Mormon bible, the role of Jesus in the religion, the history of the LSD church, and other topics.

‘I just didn’t know what the next question was going to be,’ he added.

‘There’s certain things you don’t forget. This is not a forgettable guy.’

The resident also spoke to journalist Dave Bondy about the interaction he had with the shooter.

As he went on to speak of the religion, Sanford told Johns that he had his tattoos removed so he could take part in church ceremonies.

Several tattoos were seen on his arm in Facebook photos of Sanford, including barbed wire imagery and what appears to be a dreamcatcher.

At some point, the city council candidate said the topic change to religion made him want to end the conversation. 

Pictured the aftermath of the mass shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan that left least 4 dead, 8 injured and the alleged gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford, dead.

‘He was extremely nice at first. He even talked about his child who had a serious medical concern. But when the conversation turned to religion, I just wanted to get off the door and away from him,’ the local recalled.

Despite the intense conversation, Johns said he didn’t feel unsafe according to the Detroit Free Press.

‘It wasn’t anything I thought I needed to call police about. You hear all kinds of views these days. Nothing about it suggested he was going to hurt anyone.’

It wasn’t until news broke of the mass shooting and fire that Johns realized the same man he spoke to was responsible for the carnage.

At least four people were killed and eight were left wounded on Sunday. Authorities said they would be searching the building ruins for more victims.

The FBI said Sunday that it was probing the Michigan shooting as ‘an act of targeted violence.’ Authorities have yet to identify a motive.

Come Sunday evening, about 100 people gathered for a prayer service at The River Church in Grand Blanc, a nondenominational Christian church about 5 miles (8 kilometers) from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where the bloodshed spilled earlier that day to remember Sunday’s victims.

‘We live in days that are difficult and troubled, days that are weary and tiring,’ said Pastor Chuck Lindsey, leading the congregation in prayer and addressing congregants.

‘We’re exhausted by the evil, we’re exhausted by these things. But Lord, you are our refuge.’

Mormonism is NOT biblical Christianity, it is a cult. But that said, Christianity in general is absolutely under attack. Today the Church of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan was sieged and set on fire. Pray for these cult members to believe in the real Jesus. pic.twitter.com/YnReNYYogX

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) September 28, 2025