Crime
Death toll from Grand Blanc Mormon Church shooting rises to five including suspect Thomas Jacob Sanford
Grand Blanc Township, Michigan – Authorities confirmed late Sunday that five people, including the suspected gunman, are dead following a mass shooting and fire at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township.
At least eight others sustained injuries.
The suspected gunman has been identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, 40, of Burton, Michigan.
Police say Sanford drove his pickup truck into the front of the church during morning services before opening fire with an assault rifle on congregants and their families.
At some point during the attack, Sanford used gasoline to set the building on fire.
He was later killed in an exchange of gunfire with law enforcement.
Hundreds of worshippers, including children, were inside the church when the violence unfolded.
Authorities believe additional victims may still be located inside the burned-out structure, which has been declared a total loss.
Crews with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Unit were dispatched to assist with recovery efforts.
According to a Marine Corps spokesperson, Sanford served on active duty from 2004 to 2008, reaching the rank of sergeant. He worked as a mechanic and vehicle recovery operator and was deployed to Iraq in 2007 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Military records indicate he received several medals for his service.
Sanford graduated from Goodrich High School in 2004 and was recognized among veteran alumni.
Local news archives from 2007 reported that he was deployed to Japan prior to his Iraq service.
Social media accounts linked to Sanford’s family portray him as a husband and father to a young son.
A GoFundMe campaign in 2015 revealed the family had struggled with medical expenses related to their son’s rare genetic condition, Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI), which required multiple surgeries and extended hospital stays.
At the time, Sanford spoke publicly about the challenges of balancing military service, family life, and medical hardship.
Posts from family members’ social media also highlight Sanford’s passion for the outdoors, particularly hunting.
Five confirmed dead, including Sanford.
At least eight additional victims, several hospitalized.
Sanford rammed a pickup truck through the front of the church, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the building ablaze using gasoline.
Officers engaged Sanford in gunfire, fatally wounding him.
Authorities initially discovered potential explosive devices near the church, prompting the involvement of a bomb squad. Scanner traffic also indicated suspicious beeping noises coming from Sanford’s truck.
Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye confirmed Sanford acted alone. “We believe we have the individual responsible in custody—he was neutralized during the incident,” Renye said.
The Grand Blanc tragedy occurred less than 24 hours after another mass shooting allegedly carried out by an Iraq War veteran. In Southport, North Carolina, authorities say 38-year-old Nigel Edge, a decorated Marine and Purple Heart recipient, opened fire at a waterfront bar, killing three people and injuring eight more.
The incidents, both involving Iraq War veterans within a single day, have raised questions for investigators about common threads, though officials caution it is too early to determine whether the two events are connected in any way.
By Sunday evening, nearly 12 hours after the first emergency calls, fire crews were still working to contain flare-ups at the destroyed chapel. The church website has since marked the meetinghouse as “closed.”
The ATF Detroit Field Division confirmed Sanford used accelerants to ignite the fire, while investigators continue to search through the debris for additional victims and evidence.
Authorities say identifying a clear motive remains a priority, but for now, the focus remains on recovery and support for the families of the victims.
Crime
Kaylub Giamanco Identified as “Good Samaritan” Bystander Who Stopped Silver Rail Elementary School Shooter in Bend, Oregon
BEND, Oregon — Kaylub Giamanco has been identified as the bystander who reportedly confronted and shot the teenage suspect during the deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, Channel2 NOW has learned.
According to the family member who spoke with Channel2 NOW, Giamanco was returning home during his lunch break when he encountered the unfolding emergency near the school.
Giamanco reportedly lives just up the road from the elementary school, where his two daughters attend classes.
After hearing gunshots and seeing the suspected shooter moving toward or entering the school building, he allegedly rushed toward the scene because his children (daughters) were inside.
His reported actions have prompted praise from people describing him as a hero who acted out of concern for the safety of students and staff.
Some have said he deserves a medal for his actions.
Preliminary accounts provided for this report indicate that the suspected shooter was a 16-year-old Bend resident who allegedly used a shotgun during the attack. Early reports suggested that a bystander intervened and shot the suspect, who subsequently died.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the suspect’s death as part of the broader investigation.
The shooting triggered a major emergency response in Bend on Thursday afternoon.
Preliminary information indicated that four victims—three children and one adult—were killed. The 16-year-old suspected shooter was also reported dead, bringing the reported death toll to five.
Rhoam Summer, 5, was identified in the supplied reports as the first named victim.
The other children who reportedly died were described as ages 8 and 11, while the adult victim was identified in preliminary accounts as a teacher. Their identities and the final casualty figures should be confirmed by law enforcement or the appropriate authorities before publication as definitive facts.
Two additional people were reportedly transported for medical treatment in critical condition: a 7-year-old child and a 54-year-old teacher.
The deaths and reported injuries have left the school community facing an immense tragedy, with families awaiting reliable information about their children and loved ones.
Bend police issued an active-shooter alert at approximately 1:17 p.m. Thursday, warning the public about a major law enforcement response at Silver Rail Elementary School and urging people to avoid the surrounding area.
Police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel responded to the campus. Nearby schools, including Caldera High School and Jewell Elementary, were reportedly placed under lockdown as a precaution while emergency personnel worked to address the situation.
Authorities also established a family reunification location at Journey Church, at 61303 S Highway 97, near Goodwill and Dairy Queen. Parents and guardians were directed to the designated site to reconnect with students and receive information.
Although Giamanco has been described in the supplied account as the bystander who stopped the suspect, the details have not been independently verified for this report. The suspect’s death, the bystander’s role, the identities of all victims and the reported casualty figures should be attributed to official sources once confirmed.
The incident has renewed attention to the extraordinary decisions people may face during emergencies, particularly when children and school staff are in danger. Giamanco’s reported decision to act because his daughters attended the school has prompted expressions of gratitude and calls for formal recognition.
Above all, the tragedy has left families and the Bend community mourning the reported loss of young lives and an adult educator. The focus remains on supporting those affected, confirming the facts and allowing investigators to establish exactly what happened.