Motive ‘irrelevant’ in church shooting

“It has been a nightmare”

Thomas Sanford apologized to the households of the folks killed and injured within the municipality of Grand Blanc when his son attacked a church throughout a Sunday morning service.

“I really feel horrible about all of the households who’ve been injured and they’re beneath the identical nonsense as I’m present process that my spouse and I bear,” Sanford mentioned, his voice broke a short while he spoke. “I apologize for that.”

Sanford spoke with the free press in a brief phone interview Monday 29 September. He mentioned he’s cautious of reporters and didn’t wish to say a lot.

Researchers say that his son, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, rammed his pick-up truck within the Church of Jesus Christ of the final days on McCandlish Street, then climbed and began to fireplace an assault gun on congregants. In addition they imagine that he has set a fireplace that destroyed the church.

4 church members died within the assault. Eight others had been injured. The youthful Sanford died in a firefight with the police.

His father mentioned that the youthful Sanford was a 4 -year -old navy that served in Iraq. Sanford wouldn’t say whether or not the conflict modified its son.

“He got here again. I’m glad he was coming again in a single piece,” mentioned Sanford. “He was in logistics. He drove a demolition and went out and picked up autos. As soon as he was beneath fireplace, however more often than not he was high quality.”

Sanford mentioned his son was devoted to his household and his nation.

“He beloved the US; he beloved his household,” mentioned Sanford. “He was a superb man. He was a household man.”

Sanford wouldn’t speculate about what his son could have floated to assault the church.

“The one factor I can say is that it was my son who did it,” mentioned Sanford. “As for why? Irrelevant. It occurred. We now have to take care of it. It was a nightmare.”

Researchers proceed to search for a motive for crime.

Please contact John: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely