Police in Michigan released new bodycam video Friday showing the chaotic moments officers first encountered the shooter in Sunday’s violent rampage at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation that left four dead and eight injured.
In the 47-second video that authorities played at a news conference, officers are seen running across the church parking lot toward the sound of gunfire.
The officers yell at the suspect, later identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, to drop his weapon.
“Get on the ground,” an officer yells in the video. “Get on the ground!”
“Shoot him,” another officer says.
The officers could be heard telling the shooter to drop his weapon.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye said when the shooter failed to comply with the officers’ commands, they fired at least eight shots. The officers are on paid administrative leave, a standard procedure when officers use their firearms.
Renye called the officers’ actions “very courageous.”
“This is what law enforcement is trained to do, and this is how law enforcement should respond to these incidents,” he said.
Police said Sanford rammed the church with his truck, got out and opened fire with an assault rifle. Authorities believe he started a fire at the church that engulfed the building before it was contained.
The chief said at the news conference that a Michigan conservation officer arrived on the scene in 1 minute and 58 seconds from the first call of service, and Grand Blanc officers arrived within 3 minutes and 6 seconds.
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