White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed new details about the man who rammed his truck into a Mormon church in Michigan on Sunday, saying authorities have reached their first conclusions about what motivated him.Thomas Sanford, a former Marine, was found dead after opening fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan. He exchanged gunfire with police officers before being shot and killed.
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Leavitt told Fox News on Monday that she has spoken with FBI Director Kash Patel, who said the Bureau has reason to believe that Sanford privately harbored a hatred against people of the Mormon faith.
“From what I understand, based on my conversations with the FBI director, all they know right now is this was an individual who hated people of the Mormon faith, and they are trying to understand more about this, how premeditated it was, how much planning went into it, whether he left a note, all of those questions have yet to be answered, but certainly will be answered by the FBI,” she said.
The FBI is currently executing a search warrant at Sanford’s home “to get to the bottom of why he would commit such an act of evil,” according to Leavitt.
The Trump aide added that Sanford’s family is cooperating with the FBI.
WATCH:
Authorities are expected to hold a press conference at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, where more details about the terrorist attack are expected to be shared.
The horrifying attack unfolded at the LDS church in Grand Blanc, where parishioners described cowering in fear as they waited to be shot.[/read]