Latter-day Saint Member Raises Over $300,000 for Michigan Chapel Gunman’s Family, Citing Faith
Latter-day Saint Member Raises Over $300,000 for Michigan Chapel Gunman’s Family, Citing Faith
A crowdfunding campaign initiated by a Latter-day Saints church member for the family of the gunman in a deadly Michigan chapel attack has surpassed $300,000, drawing both support and criticism. David Butler, a Utah-based member of the Mormon church, launched the GiveSendGo account on Tuesday, just days after the September 28, 2025, rampage that left four people dead and eight injured at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
The alleged attacker, 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a Marine veteran, was killed in a shootout with police after ramming his pickup truck into the chapel, opening fire with an assault rifle, and setting the building ablaze. Investigators are still working to determine a motive for the attack, though friends of Sanford indicated he harbored animosity towards the faith after a past relationship with a Mormon woman.
Butler stated his motivation for the fundraiser stems from his interpretation of Christian teachings, emphasizing the importance of loving one’s enemies and caring for the widow and orphan. “Jesus tells us that we should do this. We should love our enemies, that we should mourn with those that mourn, that we should care for the widow and the orphan,” Butler told ABC News on Thursday. He noted that while other campaigns were established for the victims, no one was assisting Sanford’s wife and children, including a chronically ill son.
Despite receiving significant blowback and accusations of being “evil” for supporting the attacker’s family, Butler maintains that Sanford’s family are also victims, having lost their father and facing economic hardship. Many of the 7,600-plus donors, who contributed over $300,000 by Thursday afternoon, appear to be Latter-day Saints themselves, offering prayers and support for the Sanford family.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.