City council candidate recalls Michigan church shooter's bizarre tirade against Mormons

GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN: A city council candidate, Kris Johns, said that days before allegedly killing four people at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, the alleged shooter espoused anti-Mormon views.

Johns, who is running for a seat on the Burton City Council, was out canvassing door-to-door about a week ago, when he met Thomas Jacob Sanford, whom police identified as the suspected gunman. 

City council candidate recalls interaction with Thomas Jacob Sanford

Talking to Fox News, Kris Johns revealed that within minutes of meeting, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, asked him "What are your thoughts on guns?" and "What do you know about Mormons?"

Johns added that Sanford then launched into a tirade against the church.

"It was a tirade. I mean, that's ultimately what it was. It was a series of questions, but it was him proactively making a tirade about his views in the LDS Church," he told the outlet.

Johns added, "It was extremely anti-Mormon. And then really what I walked away with, you know the statement I'll never forget was that Mormons are the anti-Christ."

The city council candidate further said that he initially didn't make the connection between Sanford's remarks and the attack in the church.

"I was in church at the time that the attack happened. I received the message and I saw that it was an LDS church. I made no connection. From the attack in Grand Blanc to what was him. It wasn't until later in the day where I saw a photo where I knew exactly that was the person I spoke with," Johns shared.

ATF says four IEDs were found in Thomas Jacob Sanford's truck

The truck belonging to Thomas Jacob Sanford, who allegedly crashed into the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Grand Blanc before opening fire on a crowd of worshippers, was loaded with explosive devices, authorities revealed.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) told Fox News that there were four IEDs found in Sanford's truck after it crashed into the church on Sunday, September 28.

The IEDs were made of consumer-grade fireworks and smoke canisters stuck together, the station reported.

Sanford, a Marine veteran, was earlier arrested for burglary and operating while intoxicated (OWI), authorities revealed on Monday.

Grand Blanc Police Chief William Renye said during a press conference, "The suspect from yesterday has been arrested by law enforcement in the past."

Sanford was killed in a shootout with responding officers in the church parking lot, as per authorities.