Mormons raise almost $300K for family of gunman accused of attacking Michigan church

Mormons raised nearly $300,000 for the family of the suspected gunman accused of shooting at a Michigan church, killing four and injuring eight others. 

The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started fundraisers for people and families affected by the late September shooting at a Mormon church in Grand Blanc Township, Mich. 

The members also began a fundraiser for the family of the gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford, a former Marine who served in Iraq. 

“One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter. Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving. They will face financial hardship and psychological trauma as a result of this week's horrifying events,” the GiveSendGo page read, which was formed by David Butler, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

“On top of that, one of the Sanford sons deals with serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support,” the page says. “In the past, the family attempted to raise funds for him, but with limited success.” 

Butler said he has no connections to Grand Blanc or Sanford’s family. 

“I am an ordinary member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm a fantasy and science fiction writer, and if you know me at all, it's probably because you've seen me on an LDS YouTube channel such as the Stick of Joseph or Ward Radio,” he wrote on the fundraising page. 

On Sunday, Sanford drove his vehicle into the church, fired at the congregants who were inside and set the building on fire, according to authorities. 

Sanford was killed by law enforcement in the back parking lot of the church within 10 minutes of the first 911 dial, according to James Deir of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF) Detroit office.