LDS member raises over $200K for family of Michigan church shooter

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00:00After a gunman killed four people and injured another eight at a Mormon Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Michigan on Sunday,

00:08a member of the church has raised money for the shooter's family.

00:12Now, so far, the fundraiser has brought in more than $200,000 in donations.

00:19According to the fundraiser, the shooter, Thomas Jacob Sanford, left behind a wife and children.

00:25One of his sons suffers from serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support,

00:33David Butler, who organized the fundraiser, said.

00:36The FBI says Sanford was a U.S. Marine veteran and is responsible for the violent attack at an LDS church in Michigan.

00:44Sanford drove his truck into the church's front entrance, opened fire on the congregation, and then set the building on fire.

00:51Police killed Sanford at the scene during a shootout.

00:54Burton City Council candidate Chris Johns told the Associated Press that he had spoken to Sanford

01:00while going door-to-door in Sanford's neighborhood just weeks prior to the attack.

01:04We had a quick introduction. We spoke about our children. He spoke about his background.

01:09And quickly, the first question that he had for me was, like, what's your position on guns?

01:13I said, I support the Second Amendment. That was really the end of it.

01:15And then the very next question, and he leans in, he goes, what do you know about Mormons?

01:19Johns said Sanford expressed animosity towards the LDS church and allegedly called Mormons the Antichrist.

01:26Nothing in that brief interaction seemed violent or threatening, according to Johns.

01:31Even though Sanford was allegedly motivated by anti-Mormon beliefs when he carried out the deadly attack on the Mormon church,

01:38thousands of members of the Mormon community have still chosen to donate money to support Sanford's surviving widow and children.

01:45One woman who donated $25 wrote,

01:49We pray you will be sustained and uplifted by the love of God and fellow men in this difficult time.

01:54As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are praying for you and your family.

02:00May God wrap his loving arms around you, and may angels attend and watch over your family during this difficult time,

02:06an anonymous donor wrote.

02:08The FBI and additional partners are continuing to investigate the attack.

02:12For Straight Arrow News, I'm Lauren Keenan.

02:15If you want more on this story, download the Straight Arrow News app or visit san.com.