A 77-year-old Navy veteran has been identified as one of the four victims killed during a shooting at a Michigan Latter-day Saints church on Sunday, as shared by his family.
John Bond lost his life when Thomas Sanford, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, opened fire after crashing a Chevrolet Silverado truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township. This information was revealed through a GoFundMe campaign set up for his family.
Described by those who knew him, Bond was a “loving husband, father, and grandfather,” with six children and ten grandchildren.
His loved ones also shared that he served the Navy for nine years. He had a passion for golf, trains, and enjoyed spending quality time with his family and grandchildren.
In her final moments with him, his wife, Joan, recounted that Bond told her, “I love you,” which adds a heart-wrenching touch to the tragedy.
Bond was one of two victims fatally wounded in this incident; the others were discovered deceased inside the charred church.
Authorities later reported that eight other individuals, including children, sustained injuries during the chaos.
A post on Facebook from Sanford’s mother noted that the shooter, who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008, was killed on-site during a shootout with responding police officers.
Thomas Sanford was reportedly shot just minutes after the first 911 call was made. Police, arriving within about 30 seconds, confronted the situation rapidly.
Sanford’s father described his son as a caring father and husband, expressing shock over the events. “He’s a former Marine, and we’re just completely shocked by this. There’s no explanation,” he told NBC News.
In another interview, Sanford’s eldest son mentioned that while his father experienced intense moments in Iraq, he was mostly fine, hinting at the complexities of coming home.
“The only certainty is that it was my son who did this,” Sanford stated. “Why it happened feels irrelevant. It occurred, and now we’re all grappling with the aftermath. It’s been a nightmare.”
Investigators are still looking into potential motives. Some speculate that Sanford may have harbored resentment towards the Mormon Church due to past experiences.
He had previously clashed with local City Council candidate Chris Johns in discussions that veered sharply, with Sanford expressing strong anti-religious sentiments.
