Law enforcement officers stand near the truck that crashed into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township while investigating on Sept. 29, 2025.
A makeshift memorial begins to grow near police tape close to the scene at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025.

Thomas Sanford apologized to the families of those killed and wounded in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan, when his son, Thomas Jacob Sanford, attacked a church during a Sunday morning service.

"I feel terrible about all the families that have been hurt and they're under the same crap that I'm going under, that my wife and I are going under," Sanford said, his voice breaking slightly as he spoke. "I apologize for that."

Sanford spoke to the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, in a brief phone interview Monday, Sept. 29. He said he is wary of reporters and didn't want to say much.

Investigators say that his 40-year-old son rammed his pickup truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then climbed out and began firing an assault rifle at congregants. They also believe he set a fire that destroyed the church.

Four church members died in the attack. Eight others were wounded. The younger Sanford died in a gunfight with police.

His father said the younger Sanford was a four-year Marine who served in Iraq. Sanford wouldn't say whether the war changed his son.

"He came back. I'm glad he came back in one piece," Sanford said. "He was in logistics. He drove a wrecker and went out and picked up vehicles. One time, he was under fire but most of the time he was fine."

Sanford said his son was devoted to his family and his country.

"He loved the United States; he loved his family," Sanford said. "He was a good man. He was family man."

Sanford wouldn't speculate on what may have driven his son to attack the church.

"The only thing I can say is that it was my son that did it," Sanford said. "As far as why? Irrelevant. It happened. We're dealing with it. It's been a nightmare."

Investigators continue to search for a motive.

Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Father of church shooter Thomas Jacob Sanford apologizes to victims’ families

Reporting by John Wisely, USA TODAY NETWORK / Detroit Free Press

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect