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
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.