The Sun

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THE Michigan shooting suspect who killed four parishioners at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel reportedly ranted about how Mormons are the anti-Christ days before the attack.

Political hopeful Kris Johns lifted the lid on the now bone-chilling conversation that he had at suspect Thomas Sanford's Michigan home as he canvassed for city council.

Iraq War veteran Thomas Sanford with a dead turkey.

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Iraq war veteran Thomas Sandford has been named as the suspected shooter who killed four people on SundayCredit: Facebook

Emergency services including fire trucks respond to a fire and shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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Sandford crashed his truck through the front doors of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, and opened fireCredit: Getty

Less than a week before Sanford fired shots at faithfuls until he was killed by police, Johns visited the 40-year-old Marine veteran's home in Burton, an hour outside Detroit, to chat about his bid for city council.

Johns described the killer as very friendly and said that he even opened up about having a child with serious medical issues, he told independent journalist Dave Bondy.

What we know about the Michigan Mormon Church shooting...

  • Four people were killed as worshippers congregated at Grand Blanc's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Eight more were injured and taken to hospitals
  • Thomas Sanford, 40, was identified as the shooter and killed by cops
  • He opened fire after allegedly smashing his Chevy Silverado through the church's front doors
  • Cops swooped on the scene within 30 seconds of receiving a 911 call
  • Sanford is a former Iraq War veteran and also served in the Marines
  • An Iraq sticker was found on his car's license plate
  • Improvised explosive devices were found in his truck
  • The FBI described the shooting as a targeted attack

However, when they started speaking about religion, Johns said, "I just wanted to get off the door and away from him."

Sanford started railing against Mormons and insisted they were "the antichrist," Johns told the Detroit Free Press.

He also opened up about once dating a Mormon woman in Utah, and said that he had to get tattoos removed to take part in church traditions.

But despite the bleak subject matter, Sanford didn't seem impassioned or violent against the church as he shared his views, Johns said.

"It was very much standard anti-LDS talking points that you would find on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook," said the political hopeful.

Days later, when Johns saw photos of law enforcement swarming Sanford's home, his heart fell to the pit of his stomach.

Man arrested after driving through police barricade near Michigan church where 4 people were killed Sunday

“There’s certain things you don’t forget," Johns said.

"This is not a forgettable guy.”

Although the FBI is investigating the shooting as a "targeted" act of violence, the motive behind the attack has yet to be determined.

Thomas Sanford, an Iraq War veteran, with his family.

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Sanford was reportedly married and had a child who suffered from a rare genetic disorderCredit: Facebook

Aerial view of emergency crews responding to a fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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The fire nearly leveled the church parishCredit: AP

Dan Beazley stands with a cross near the road closed due to a shooting and fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

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A Michigan resident held up a cross in the road near the sceneCredit: Getty

VIOLENT ATTACK

Sanford plowed his pickup truck into the front doors of the chapel on Sunday morning at 10:25 am after over 100 people had gathered for service, police said.

He used gasoline to start a roaring fire and whipped out a gun to spray bullets at faithful parishioners as they worshipped.

Brave cops were at the scene in 30 seconds and killed Sanford in the rear church parking lot just eight minutes after the attack began.

The fire engulfed the church before first responders could contain it.

Four people were killed and eight others injured in the terrifying attack. At least two of the victims were fatally shot, cops said.

Authorities sifted through the ashes for bodies for hours after the attack, but said that everyone had been accounted for by Monday morning.

Illustration of a timeline detailing the Mormon church attack, showing a truck ramming the church, police response, the building burning, and the attacker.

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SUSPECT'S HISTORY

Sanford graduated from high school in Michigan in 2004 before joining the Marine Corps and serving in the Iraq War.

He appeared to have, at one point, supported Donald Trump, as he was seen wearing Make America Great Again attire in social media posts shared years before the attack.

There is a Trump-Pence 2016 campaign sign displayed outside his home.

Sanford married his wife in 2016, and the couple share a son, according to The Telegraph.

In 2015, they posted a GoFundMe asking for donations to help pay for their child's medical treatments, as he suffered from a rare genetic disorder.

At the time, Sanford spoke with local media and urged parents to never "take having healthy kids for granted."

"We are proud of our child. I spent four years in the Marine Corps and was in Iraq, and this is still the most unique thing to deal with," he said, according to the GoFundMe.

Sunday's shooting comes after a disturbing number of attacks targeting parishioners.

In August, Robin Westman, 23, opened fire on a Catholic church in Minneapolis and killed two children as they prayed during morning mass.