The gunman who plowed his pickup truck, donning two American flags in back, into a Michigan church and then began shooting at worshippers on Sunday, Sept. 28, was a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Iraq.

The attack left at least two people dead and eight others hospitalized.

Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, was killed by police less than 10 minutes after the mass shooting and church fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township began, authorities said.

Sanford did stints in Japan and Iraq after graduating from Goodrich High School in 2003, according to a 2007 news article from the Clarkston News.

The newspaper described his military career at the time as "stellar." He served in Okinawa, Japan, earned honors "on the rifle range," and was a sergea

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