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
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.