The horrifying Michigan church shooting has left a community shattered and one victim’s final words to his wife are now being remembered as a devastating farewell.
Among the four killed in the Sunday attack at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc was John Bond, a 77-year-old Navy veteran, father of six, and grandfather of ten.
The Attack
Authorities say the shooter, Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, an Iraq War veteran, rammed his truck into the church before unleashing gunfire and setting the building ablaze.
Police arrived within 30 seconds of the 911 call and killed Sanford in the parking lot. Inside, chaos left four worshippers dead: two from gunshots and two from the fire.
Officials later confirmed that four improvised explosive devices, made of fireworks and smoke canisters strapped together, were found in Sanford’s truck, along with American flags.
A Family and Community Grieve
Bond’s family described him as an avid golfer, train enthusiast, and, above all, a man devoted to his loved ones. A GoFundMe tribute called him a “family man” whose presence touched generations.
In their final moments together, Bond looked at his wife Joanne, mentioned that his shoes needed shining, and then told her simply: “I love you.” Later reports noted that he had also wanted to call her before he died — a detail that adds to the poignancy of those last moments.
For his widow, Joanne, the pain of losing her husband is coupled with the bittersweet memory of that last exchange.
Motive Still Under Investigation
The FBI has conducted more than 100 interviews in its probe. Director Kash Patel reportedly told White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt that Sanford hated Mormons. Local candidate Kris Johns recalled Sanford’s “unhinged” claims that Mormons believed they were above Jesus, along with repeated rants about the anti-Christ.
Investigators say Sanford did not speak about politics or the recent assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk.
Sanford’s father, also named Thomas, called the massacre a “nightmare” and offered condolences to the families of the victims. “As far as why? Irrelevant. It happened,” he said.
National Outrage
Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer mourned the loss, saying: “Your grief is our grief.”
President Donald Trump called the shooting “horrendous,” while Vice President JD Vance described it as an “awful situation.”
As investigators search for answers, families like the Bonds are left holding onto memories, and in Joanne’s case, the three words she will never forget: his last expression of love.
