MI, Grand Blanc - Mass Shooting at Mormon Church, fire, 28 Sept 2025

[iamshadow21]

Craig Hayden, 72, was killed while trying to help others in the congregation.

Victim in Michigan church shooting died trying to help another worshipper, family says

Craig Hayden, 72, was among at least four people who were killed at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Leve]

Mormon church raise $200,000 for shooter's family. Not sure if this has been posted yet.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2025/10/01/lds-mormon-church-shooting-fundraiser-sanford/

 

[Ontario Mom]

According to this article, Sanford's DUI charge was in Utah in 2010. He registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.18. He pled guilty to a reduced charge (misdemeanor), paid a $750 fine, did community service and had to undergo an alcohol/substance use evaluation as part of probation.

The burglary charge relates to theft in 2011 of jewelry and about $15 from a change jar from his parent's home after he moved back to Michigan from Utah, where he had developed a meth addiction. He was continuing to use (including smoking a substance called K2) after he returned to Michigan and his parents had sought advice from local authorities about help for their son's addiction, since faith based counseling and intervention had not helped. Ultimately, his parents did not press for prosecution.

Parents of Michigan church shooter called police after he burglarized their home in 2011

The man who police say was responsible for killing four worshippers and injuring eight others at a Grand Blanc Township church this week was dealing with methamphetamine addiction when he was arrested for a felony burglary of his parents’ home more than a decade ago, according to police records.

www.mlive.com

If it weren't due to the circumstances we're even reading about this in the first place, this would just be astoundingly dense but almost humorous:

"When interviewed by police, Sanford denied having taken money from his parents’ home before he was asked if he had, according to the report. When a deputy pointed out that he hadn’t mentioned that any money had been taken, Sanford said, “Well, I didn’t take any jewelry from my parents either,” the report reads."

 

[Diddian]

If it weren't due to the circumstances we're even reading about this in the first place, this would just be astoundingly dense but almost humorous:

"When interviewed by police, Sanford denied having taken money from his parents’ home before he was asked if he had, according to the report. When a deputy pointed out that he hadn’t mentioned that any money had been taken, Sanford said, “Well, I didn’t take any jewelry from my parents either,” the report reads."

I have a relative (nephew) who is a meth/heroin addict. As was his mother (my late sister).

In my experience, the addiction becomes ALL and honesty, rationality, and respect for family and other relationships are all surrendered to that addiction. And any trust or relationship is only valuable as currency to serve the addiction.

The continual lying and manipulation is exasperating and the loss of relationship with the human being they once were is heartbreaking.

 

[nhmemorymaker]

It's very much a case of, when people show you who they are, believe them. (Thank you, Maya.)

He was showing people all around him what he believed deeply and completely, and nobody who has talked to the press so far took it seriously, pushed back, or suggested he should get help. They just brushed it off, enjoyed his jokes and taking their photos in his sunflower field.

And here we are.

MOO

It's very much a case of, when people show you who they are, believe them. (Thank you, Maya.)

You betcha, @iamshadow21 .... Maya knew...

 

[layer]

Craig Hayden, 72, was killed while trying to help others in the congregation.

Wish I could learn more about this guy, no one lives to 72 without having awesome stories. I'll keep my eye out for obits.

 

[Charlot123]

According to this article, Sanford's DUI charge was in Utah in 2010. He registered a blood-alcohol level of 0.18. He pled guilty to a reduced charge (misdemeanor), paid a $750 fine, did community service and had to undergo an alcohol/substance use evaluation as part of probation.

The burglary charge relates to theft in 2011 of jewelry and about $15 from a change jar from his parent's home after he moved back to Michigan from Utah, where he had developed a meth addiction. He was continuing to use (including smoking a substance called K2) after he returned to Michigan and his parents had sought advice from local authorities about help for their son's addiction, since faith based counseling and intervention had not helped. Ultimately, his parents did not press for prosecution.

Parents of Michigan church shooter called police after he burglarized their home in 2011

The man who police say was responsible for killing four worshippers and injuring eight others at a Grand Blanc Township church this week was dealing with methamphetamine addiction when he was arrested for a felony burglary of his parents’ home more than a decade ago, according to police records.

www.mlive.com

Combining meth with K2 (synthetic marijuana) is even worse. K2 comes in different forms, and in itself may have unpredictable effects, being a stimulant and a hallucinogen. The combo is probably disastrous. I remember Sebastian Zapata, who was high on K2 and set a woman on fire in NYC subway. (Also a very strange behavior, sitting on a bench and watching it.)

Could it be a long-lasting use of strong substances, very noxious for the brain, that caused such murderous, but also, bizarre transformation of the personality?

K2 is Not tested by the standard panel or even 10-test tox panel. Special tests should be ordered. Luckily, the guy had enough hair to test for a lot of things. It may take LE a while, but i hope they get the answers and share the information with the community.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

I'm not so sure.

With MH issues NOT properly treated,
it is usually a downward spiral for some people.
Sooner or later tragedy happens.

This assumes that mental health issues can always be treated, whether the individual complies with the treatment or not. I'm not a mental health expert by any means but I'm aware that there are mental health conditions which simply cannot be treated, either because all available treatment options have already been tried and failed or simply because the condition is untreatable. It has been found, for example, that any attempts to reason with many people way down the conspiracy rabbit hole merely pushes them further down it because they perceive the other person as part of the conspiracy.

With physical illnesses, sometimes you just run out of options and sometimes there are no effective treatment options at all. The same is the case with some mental illnesses. The difference is that with physical illnesses the person affected generally either dies or becomes too badly affected to be dangerous to others, but with mental illness they can go on for decades as a permanent danger to society.

 

[Serononin]

IMO, if they are lone wolves, most people who are angry and rigid are unlikely to cause destruction like he did, thank goodness. Instead, they tend to destroy their own lives by ruining relationships and creating chaos for people close to them. imo

But if they are engaged with other like-minded people, such as through an online community that eggs each other on, I do worry about what such angry, rigid people will feel compelled to do. My opinion.

We haven't heard yet if he was active with online groups or not, as far as I know.

What compelled him to act on his hatred? idk

jmopinion

The forensic examination of his devices (which I assume is happening currently?) will definitely be very interesting

 

[Serononin]

Wish I could learn more about this guy, no one lives to 72 without having awesome stories. I'll keep my eye out for obits.

Totally, someone born in the early 50s has seen a whole lot of change in the world. I hope he told other people his stories while he was alive, it's so sad to think of them dying with him

 

[iamshadow21]

Pat Howard, 77, also confirmed killed. His wife was uninjured.

Who were the victims killed in the Michigan church shooting?

Loved ones are mourning the four people killed and eight others injured in the attack on a central Michigan church.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Tricia]

Michigan church shooting survivor says she looked gunman who killed her father in the eyes: "I forgave him right there"

In the letter shared Monday, the woman recounted the events of the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Serononin]

Michigan church shooting survivor says she looked gunman who killed her father in the eyes: "I forgave him right there"

In the letter shared Monday, the woman recounted the events of the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc.

www.cbsnews.com

She's a stronger woman than me, that's sure and certain

 

[layer]

Wish I could learn more about this guy, no one lives to 72 without having awesome stories. I'll keep my eye out for obits.

Craig Douglas Hayden
Pilot, GM toolmaker, scoutmaster, husband 51 years, 4 kids, 10 grandkids. A life well lived.

 

[ReadySet]

The News Literacy Project

👕 On a day when people are talking about Sora, AI slop and deepfakes, it's important to remember that misinformation is still spread in simple forms - such as altered images of shirts. However,...

www.facebook.com

 

[Inthedetails]

The News Literacy Project

👕 On a day when people are talking about Sora, AI slop and deepfakes, it's important to remember that misinformation is still spread in simple forms - such as altered images of shirts. However,...

www.facebook.com

Why do people do things like that and lie about the truth? Drives me nuts. Be honest!

jmopinion

 

[Izzylizzy]

Mormon church raise $200,000 for shooter's family. Not sure if this has been posted yet.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2025/10/01/lds-mormon-church-shooting-fundraiser-sanford/

Lauren @ HTC

Shooter’s Family Gets MORE $$ Than Victims | Grand Blanc LDS Church Shooting Updates​

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[Izzylizzy]

Mormon church raise $200,000 for shooter's family. Not sure if this has been posted yet.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2025/10/01/lds-mormon-church-shooting-fundraiser-sanford/

Today It's close to $350,000
imo

LDS church member raises $300K for Grand Blanc Twp. shooter's family, citing Christian teachings

As the community continues to support victims of the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, one man has launched a campaign to help the suspect's family.

www.wxyz.com

 

[TMich6811]

Today It's close to $350,000
imo

LDS church member raises $300K for Grand Blanc Twp. shooter's family, citing Christian teachings

As the community continues to support victims of the attack on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, one man has launched a campaign to help the suspect's family.

www.wxyz.com

Truly amazing and imo - point proven.
Love and kindness wins.

 

[layer]

Reminds me of the reaction to the Amish schoolhouse in West Nickel Mines. Yesterday was the 19th anniversary.
Amish community members visited and comforted Roberts' widow, parents and parents-in-law. One Amish man held Roberts' sobbing father in his arms, reportedly for as long as an hour, to comfort him. The Amish also established a charitable fund for the family of the shooter.