Before Thomas Sanford killed four worshippers and injured several others at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, he had a confrontational encounter with staff at another local church that left some members shaken.

Leaders at The River Church, which has locations in Oakland and Genesee counties including Grand Blanc, revealed that Sanford visited their Goodrich location on Sept. 21 seeking to have his child baptized.

"We have a policy. We don't require a class for someone to be baptized; we require a conversation," Pastor Caleb Combs said.

That conversation, according to Combs, led staff to hold off on the baptism. That did not sit well with Sanford.

"He just became agitated. I don't know exactly what was said, but as we say in the statement,

See Full Page