Michigan church shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford suffered from PTSD after decorated Iraq duties
BURTON, MICHIGAN: The rampage that left at least four people dead and a church in flames has been linked to a troubled Iraq War veteran who had long been struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Thomas Jacob “Jake” Sanford, a 40-year-old father-of-one from Burton, Michigan, was identified as the man who rammed his flag-draped pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc on Sunday before storming out with an assault rifle.
Mayhem at Latter-day Saints church in Michigan
By the time the chaos was over, Sanford had gunned down at least four people and injured eight more. Cops shot him dead in the parking lot.
Authorities say they’re still combing through the wreckage, admitting there are “an unknown number” of parishioners still missing. CNN reported that as many as seven people remain unaccounted for.
Witnesses recalled the carnage started with a deafening crash. “We thought it was a bomb,” one parishioner said, describing the moment Sanford’s truck plowed into the church during Sunday service. Some churchgoers even rushed to help thinking it was an accident, until Sanford pulled out a rifle and opened fire.
Among the injured was a young girl shot in the back. At least one victim remains in critical condition. Residents living nearby described seeing “at least four yellow canvases over dead bodies” after the attack.
Thomas Jacob Sanford had PTSD
A family friend told journalist Ty Steele that Sanford had been battling demons long before Sunday’s horror show.
"It's hard to feel sad for someone who did something so terrible, and I still feel sad," she admitted. "I had heard through family events that he had had PTSD. He would make comments occasionally and it was something that was kind of talked about. It wasn't talked about in depth... so I don't know the depth of his issues."
PTSD is a common struggle for Iraq and Afghanistan war vets, who often deal with flashbacks, mood swings, avoidance, and hyperarousal long after leaving combat. Experts note it’s a major public health concern, making reintegration into normal life a brutal challenge for thousands of former soldiers.
Thomas Jacob Sanford was a decorated soldier and a family man
Sanford’s past paints a picture of a devoted Marine and family man before he went on a downward spiral. According to the Marine Corps, he served from June 2004 to June 2008 as an automotive mechanic and vehicle recovery operator. From August 2007 to March 2008, he was deployed to Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom.
He rose to the rank of sergeant and earned a stack of honors, including the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the National Defense Service Medal.
On the home front, he was part of a devout Christian family. Social media photos show Sanford, his wife, and their young son posing together in trucks, standing proudly in sunflower fields, and smiling at family events.
Back in 2015, a dormant GoFundMe reportedly raised over $3,000 for their son (now 10), who was born with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), a rare disorder where the pancreas overproduces insulin. Family posts often referenced their faith in God, per the Daily Mail.
Furthermore, pictures of the truck Sanford used to ram the church showed two American flags attached.
No known motive for Thomas Jacob Sanford's rampage
Police have yet to reveal a motive behind Sanford’s rampage. Authorities say the shooter had no known ties to the congregation. Federal agencies are now digging into his background, movements, and possible affiliations.
The blaze that tore through the church is still being investigated, though officials suspect Sanford may have deliberately set it as part of the attack.
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