DETROIT — A former Marine who opened fire at a Michigan church and set the building ablaze in late September was motivated by anti-religious beliefs, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.
While the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, previously reported that the suspect in the deadly attack had expressed disdain toward The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the FBI initially did not share details on a possible motive in what they called an "act of targeted violence."
About a month after the attack, the FBI revealed the suspected motive in a brief update on Oct. 31. The agency did not provide further information on how investigators determined the motive but Jennifer Runyan, special agent in charge at the FBI Detroit field office, said it was "based upon countless hours of investigative efforts."
"Based upon the facts, circumstances, and information obtained in this case, I am confirming that this is a targeted act of violence believed to be motivated by the assailant's anti-religious beliefs against the Mormon religious community," Runyan said in a video statement.
The gunman, identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, had opened fire on hundreds of worshippers inside the church in Grand Blanc Township on Sept. 28. At some point, Sanford set the church on fire before he was fatally shot by responding officers.
