Crime
Grand Blanc Mormon Church shooting suspect identified as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford
Grand Blanc Township, Michigan — Authorities have identified the gunman responsible for the deadly attack at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc as 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford, a resident of Burton, Michigan.
Sanford, a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Iraq from 2004 to 2008, according to social media posts by his family, launched a violent assault on the congregation late Sunday morning.
Investigators say Sanford drove his Chevy Silverado into the church’s entrance before opening fire with a semi-automatic rifle on worshippers inside.
At least two people were killed and nine others wounded in the attack, with authorities warning the death toll could rise once investigators are able to fully search the building.
Hundreds of worshippers had been inside at the time.
Emergency responders said several victims were transported to local hospitals, while others remain unaccounted for.
Witnesses reported seeing elderly men lying motionless on the ground, and police believe additional victims may still be inside the burned structure.
Following the shooting, Sanford allegedly set the church on fire. Drone footage and aerial images show the building engulfed in flames, with a column of thick black smoke visible for miles. The roof later collapsed as fire crews battled the inferno.
Scanner traffic and police sources revealed that Sanford’s vehicle emitted a beeping noise, prompting concerns about an explosive device.
The bomb squad is actively investigating several suspicious items found on church property, which officials fear could be improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Sanford lived on Atherton Road in Burton, Michigan, where police were seen conducting operations on Sunday afternoon.
Public property records link the residence to Sanford, who also owns a 2008 GMC Sierra, consistent with the vehicle used in the attack.
Social media accounts linked to Sanford depict him as a family man, married with a young son.
A 2015 GoFundMe campaign raised more than $3,000 for the child, who was born with congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), a rare genetic disorder. Family photos posted online showed the Sanfords smiling together in pickup trucks and sunflower fields — a sharp contrast to Sunday’s horrific violence.
Sanford was fatally shot by police outside the church during the confrontation. Video from the scene shows his body lying near the burning building as first responders secured the perimeter.
Law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal level are working together to determine Sanford’s motives.
Early findings suggest he may have struggled with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and investigators are also examining possible anti-Mormon rhetoric posted online.
At least 15 to 20 law enforcement vehicles, including unmarked units, responded to the scene along South Saginaw Road. The area remains sealed off as the investigation continues.
Officials have scheduled a press conference for further details are expected regarding the number of casualties, the condition of the injured, and whether any explosives were confirmed.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.