Overview

• Police identified the suspect as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, a former Marine from Burton, who was shot dead by officers about eight minutes after the first reports.
• Authorities say he rammed a pickup through the church’s front doors, opened fire with an assault-style rifle, and used gasoline to set the building ablaze.
• Officials confirmed four victims dead and eight injured, with one in critical condition and seven in stable condition.
• The FBI has deployed more than 100 agents with ATF support, and investigators are searching Sanford’s home and digital records as they work to determine a motive.
• Investigators reported suspected improvised devices at the scene and sent bomb squads to related locations, while crews continue recovery at the church, which was declared a total loss.