A 77-year-old Navy veteran has been confirmed as one of the four individuals who lost their lives during a tragic shooting at a Michigan Latter-day Saints church on Sunday, per statements from his family.
John Bond met a tragic fate when he was shot by former US Marine Thomas Sanford, who drove his Chevy Silverado truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Grand Blanc Township, as detailed in a GoFundMe page set up for his family.
According to the fundraising page, Bond was a “devoted husband, father, and grandfather.” He was blessed with six children and ten grandchildren, as reported by Fox2Detroit.
Bond proudly served in the US Navy for nine years, alongside his military service.
He was remembered as “an enthusiast of golf and trains who cherished spending quality time with his family and grandchildren,” according to his family’s statement.
In touching moments before his death, Bond’s wife, Joanne, shared their final exchange, where he expressed, “I love you,” while requesting his shoes be polished.
The cherished veteran was among two individuals who were fatally shot, with the remaining two bodies discovered inside the charred church.
Authorities reported that eight others, including minors, suffered injuries amid the frantic scene.
A Facebook update from Sanford’s mother indicates that the shooter, who was killed in a confrontation with law enforcement, had served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008.
Sanford died shortly after the first 911 call was placed, with police arriving on the scene in just 30 seconds, according to officials.
Thomas Sanford’s father described him to various media outlets as a devoted father and husband.
“He was an ex-Marine, and we are utterly bewildered by this; we lack clarity,” he stated in remarks to NBC News.
In another interview with the Detroit Free Press, Sanford’s father noted that while his son had faced danger during his Iraq deployment, he usually returned unscathed.
“All I can state is that it was my son who did this,” Sanford shared with the media. “As for the reasons? They are unimportant. It happened, and we’re coping with it. This has been a nightmare.”
Investigators continue to probe for a motive, with indications that Sanford may have harbored resentment toward the Mormon church stemming from a previous troubled relationship.
In the days preceding the violence, he reportedly expressed his disdain for Mormons to local city council candidate, Kris Johns, labeling the faith as “the antichrist” and using the topic to shift their earlier friendly discussion.
