The father of the man responsible for driving a truck into a Mormon church in Michigan before opening fire on congregants apologized for his son’s actions on Monday.
The father, Thomas Sanford, told the Detroit Free Press that the situation is a “nightmare.” Neighbors and members of the community in Grand Blanc, Michigan expressed shock and sorrow in interviews with Fox News Digital. Investigators have not determined a specific motive for the shooter, also named Thomas Sanford, as new details emerge about his romantic life and alleged anti-Mormon prejudice.
“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,” the elder Sanford said. “I apologize for that.”
Online images of the shooter’s home showed a campaign sign for President Donald Trump on its fence, but the sign was not present when Fox News Digital saw the home on Monday.
Local city council candidate Kris Johns told Fox News that he spoke to Sanford just days before his attack and that the conversation veered toward extreme anti-Mormon rhetoric.
Sanford referred to Mormonism as “the anti-Christ” during their talk, Johns said.
Past acquaintances of Sanford’s say he had no such prejudice earlier in his life. Sandra Winter, who says she was Sanford’s landlady in Utah for roughly 10 months in 2010, said he dated and nearly married a Mormon woman during his time there.
Winter said she knew Sanford well and that he was considering joining the Mormon church in order to further his relationship with the girlfriend. She added that the woman’s family was “pretty gung ho about the idea.”
Despite all this, Winter said Sanford one day abruptly left without explanation.