FBI confirms shooter in deadly Michigan church attack was motivated by hatred toward Mormons

By ISABELLA VOLMERT, Associated Press

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The man who opened fire in a Michigan church and set it ablaze was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the FBI confirmed Friday.

While friends close to the gunman in the deadly shooting have said he long harbored hatred against the church, the FBI had previously declined to specify the motivation behind the attack that left four people dead and the church burned to the ground, except to say it was “targeted” act of violence.

The gunman, Thomas Jacob Sanford , 40, was killed by responding law enforcement .

“I am confirming this is a targeted act of violence believed to be motivated by the assailant’s anti-religious beliefs against the Mormon religious community,