From Tragedy to Forgiveness: Daughter’s Letter Moves Community After Grand Blanc Church Attack
In the wake of Sunday’s deadly shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, the daughter of one of the victims has shared a handwritten letter that has touched hearts across the community. In it, she describes looking into the shooter’s eyes, seeing his pain, and offering forgiveness.
Craig Hayden was one of four innocent victims in Sunday’s tragedy. He is survived by his wife of more than 50 years and their four children. One of his daughters penned an emotional letter that recounts the moments after the attack and her encounter with the gunman, 40-year-old Thomas Sanford.
Victim's Daughter Shows Compassion for Shooter
Many in the community have been struck by the tone of her message, which focuses not on anger, but on forgiveness. In her own words, she writes, "I saw pain, he felt lost. I deeply felt it with every fiber of my being. I forgave him, I forgave him right there, not in words, but with my heart." She also recalls, “When he came over to me I felt very calm, peaceful even as I kneeled next to my dad, my hand still on dad. If we can stop the hate we can stop the suffering. But stopping the hate takes all of us.”
Her words have resonated across Grand Blanc and beyond, as the letter was shared hundreds of times on social media, reaching neighbors, friends, and people across the country who are moved by her courage and grace.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Hayden’s wife with bills and living expenses. The original goal was $20,000, but the campaign has already raised more than $85,000. Donations can be made here.
An AI-generated transcript of Hayden’s daughter’s letter is below. The letter has been formatted only for readability.
I know many of you may not want to hear this… when I gave a description of Thomas to the FBI, I told them he had blue eyes. Blue eyes brightened by tears, red and teary. All I saw as I searched my memory was blue eyes.
When he came over to me I felt very calm, peaceful even as I kneeled next to my dad, my hand still on dad. It felt like a long time I stared into his eyes while answering this question. The only way I can describe it is I saw into his soul. I never took my eyes off his eyes, something happened, I saw pain, he felt lost. I deeply felt it with every fiber of my being. I forgave him, I forgave him right there, not in words, but with my heart.
Later I kept asking to see a picture of him. Something about his blue eyes caused me confusion. I questioned if I was remembering what I saw correctly? When I finally saw his picture, his eyes were not blue, I couldn’t understand. I know what I saw, it was seared in my brain. In the middle of the night while texting my sister I realized it was my eyes I saw. I saw into his soul and he saw into mine. He let me live.
I am sharing this now because I believe it’s just one of many reasons I was spared, just one of the reasons. I needed to share this for Papa, for Dad, for anyone who can set aside hate. Maybe that time won’t be now for you, but maybe one day, what we say and do matters.
Fear breeds anger, anger breeds hate, hate breeds suffering. If we can stop the hate we can stop the suffering. But stopping the hate takes all of us. I promise you if for one month you can stop using crude language, if you stop taking the Lord’s name in vain you will feel a change. We can start there. If you stop letting anger in, hate can’t spread. We can stop it! We can stop the anger and the hate and stop suffering somewhere for someone.
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