Crime
Third victim of Grand Blanc LDS church shooting identified as Pat Howard
Authorities have identified Pat Howard as the third victim killed in Sunday’s mass shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
Howard’s family described him as a devoted husband, uncle, and friend whose life was rooted in kindness, curiosity, and family bonds.
“Uncle Pat was so many things. He was smart, kind, funny, serious, and endlessly curious. He loved his family deeply,” relatives wrote in a tribute. “To spend your life surrounded by the love and laughter of Aunt Kitty and all the Howard kids—that’s a life well spent.”
Loved ones recalled his presence at family gatherings, where his bright eyes, raised brows, and knowing smile often signaled either a witty remark or a perfectly timed piece of knowledge.
“In my mind, I see him mid-conversation,” one family member shared. “Whatever it was, I wanted to be around that table.”
In the wake of his sudden loss, relatives have launched a fundraiser to support Howard’s wife, Kitty, with funeral and burial expenses.
Family members said the community’s support—whether through donations or simple acts of kindness—would honor Howard’s memory. “If you can’t afford to donate, do something nice for your neighbor, tell someone you love them, and be the person you want your neighbor to be,” they wrote.
The tragedy unfolded on Sunday morning, September 28, 2025, when 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, drove his pickup truck into the front entrance of the church during services before opening fire on congregants with an assault rifle.
He then set the building on fire, causing a massive blaze that ultimately led to the roof’s collapse.
At least four victims were killed and eight others injured. Sanford himself was killed during an exchange of gunfire with police.
The FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the motive.
Sanford, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served from 2004 to 2008 and deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, had previously been arrested for burglary and operating while intoxicated.
Military records and family social media accounts describe him as a mechanic, vehicle recovery operator, husband, father, and outdoorsman.
Authorities have confirmed that the church building is a total loss. Emergency crews and search-and-rescue teams continue to examine the debris for additional victims.
This attack marks the second mass shooting in less than 24 hours involving Iraq War veterans.
Just hours earlier in North Carolina, another Marine veteran opened fire at a Southport bar, killing three and wounding eight.
Crime
Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin Fatally Stabs Mother Zoya Shablykin and Three Others at Key Peninsula Home
Five people, including the suspect, are dead following a violent stabbing incident and subsequent deputy-involved shooting Tuesday morning in the 14000 block of 87th Avenue Court Northwest near Gig Harbor, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO).
Authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Aleksandr Aleksand Shablykin.
Investigators say the incident began as a reported protection order violation and escalated into a deadly stabbing attack in a residential cul-de-sac.
Dispatchers received the first 911 call at approximately 8:41 a.m. reporting an “order violation in progress.” According to the sheriff’s office, an adult male had gone to a residence despite a no-contact protection order involving a female occupant of the home.
Deputies later clarified that although a protection order had been granted, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect and therefore was not legally enforceable at the time.
Deputies were en route to serve the order when the situation rapidly escalated.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., additional emergency calls reported that the man was actively stabbing individuals outside the home. Witnesses described a chaotic scene, with at least one victim attacked in the middle of the street in front of multiple bystanders.
A deputy arrived on scene minutes later.
According to Officer Shelbie Boyd, spokesperson for the Pierce County Force Investigation Team (PCFIT), gunfire was reported at 9:33 a.m.
“We have the adult male suspect who was shot by the deputy,” Boyd said during a press briefing.
Shablykin was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released specific details regarding the exchange of gunfire but confirmed that the investigation remains active.
Deputies located four adult victims at the scene.
Three were pronounced dead at the residence. A fourth victim was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to their injuries.
One of the victims was identified as 52-year-old Zoya Shablykin, the suspect’s mother.
Authorities stated that relationships between the suspect and the additional victims remain under investigation.
Witness accounts suggest that neighbors may have intervened in an attempt to stop the attack.
Court records linked to the residence show that in April 2025, Zoya Shablykin petitioned for a protection order against her adult son. The order was granted in May.
In her petition, she alleged ongoing threats, harassment, and erratic behavior, including prior physical aggression. The filing referenced concerns about his mental health and stated he had previously pushed and threatened her.
The protection order prohibited the son from possessing weapons and from coming within 1,000 feet of his mother, her home, vehicle, or workplace. The order also required him to comply with a treatment plan and prescribed medications.
Investigators confirmed that although the order had been approved by the court, it had not yet been formally served to the suspect at the time of the incident. Deputies were attempting to serve the documentation when the stabbing occurred.
Court records indicate Shablykin had multiple prior contacts with law enforcement dating back to 2020, primarily involving traffic-related offenses, including driving without a valid license and refusing to identify himself during traffic stops. Records reflect at least 14 separate cases. A 2023 trespassing charge was dismissed.
A family acquaintance told media outlets that other immediate family members were not present at the residence during the attack and were safe elsewhere at the time of the incident.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and the Pierce County Force Investigation Team are continuing to investigate both the stabbing deaths and the deputy-involved shooting. Authorities have not yet released the names of the additional victims pending notification of next of kin.
Officials described the event as a tragic escalation of a domestic situation that unfolded rapidly despite law enforcement response efforts.
Further updates are expected as the investigation proceeds.