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
5 dead including 3 children in Silver Rail Elementary shooting in Bend, teenage shooter killed by a Good Samaritan
BEND, Ore. — Five people were reportedly killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in southeast Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, according to preliminary information attributed to federal law enforcement.
The reported shooting prompted a major emergency response involving police, fire crews, and emergency medical services.
Authorities issued an alert at approximately 1:17 p.m., warning of a large police presence at the elementary school and urging the public to avoid the area.
According to the information provided, four victims were killed at the school. Three of those victims were children, while the fourth was an adult. The suspected gunman, described in preliminary reports as a teenager, was also reported dead, bringing the reported total to five fatalities.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting, including the identities of the victims and the suspect, had not been fully established in the information available.
Preliminary reports indicated that the suspected gunman was a teenager and was killed after being confronted by a Good Samaritan.
Earlier scanner traffic reportedly indicated that the suspect had been neutralized. Unconfirmed reports suggested that the individual who intervened may have been a father of a student at the school.
However, authorities had not publicly confirmed all the circumstances surrounding the confrontation or independently verified the reported identity and role of the person who intervened.
Investigators are expected to examine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting, how the suspect was stopped, and whether the suspect acted alone.
The first police alert was issued at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday. It described a large police presence at Silver Rail Elementary School and instructed the public to stay away from the area.
Fire and emergency medical services personnel were seen responding near the school as authorities worked to address the reported threat and assist those affected.
The shooting prompted urgent concern among families and the surrounding community, particularly after reports indicated that children were among the victims.
Approximately 10 minutes after the initial alert, police announced a reunification site for students and their families at Journey Church, located at 61303 S. Highway 97 in Bend, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen.
Parents and guardians were instructed to go to the designated location to reunite with students and receive further information.
Authorities urged families to follow official instructions and avoid approaching the school while emergency operations continued.
The reported shooting also prompted precautionary security measures at nearby schools. Parents received alerts indicating that Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary School had been placed on lockdown Thursday afternoon.
The lockdowns were reported as law enforcement responded to Silver Rail Elementary and worked to secure the surrounding area.
Further information was needed to establish how long the lockdowns remained in effect and when normal school operations resumed.
Although preliminary information indicated five deaths, including three children, one adult victim, and the teenage suspect, additional official confirmation is needed regarding the victims’ identities, the suspect’s identity, and the circumstances of the shooting.
The reported involvement of a Good Samaritan also requires confirmation from investigators.
This remains a developing story. Further details should be added as law enforcement and school officials release verified information about the shooting and the investigation.