Crime
Fourth victim of Grand Blanc LDS church shooting identified as Thelma Armstrong
Grand Blanc Township, MI – Authorities have identified Thelma Armstrong as one of the four victims killed in Sunday’s mass shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.
Armstrong, originally from Klerksdorp, South Africa, was widely known in her hometown as a respected general manager at Foodzone before immigrating to the United States in 2019.
Friends and family describe her as a devoted mother, grandmother, and friend, remembered for her kindness, generosity, and unwavering dedication to her loved ones.
She had been attending worship services on Sunday morning with her daughter, family, and other congregants when the devastating attack unfolded.
At approximately 10:25 a.m., authorities say 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, drove his pickup truck into the front entrance of the church before opening fire on congregants with an assault-style rifle.
He later set the building ablaze, triggering a massive fire that caused the roof to collapse.
In total, four people were killed and eight others injured. Emergency crews confirmed that the church building is a total loss.
Search-and-rescue teams continue to work through the debris to ensure no additional victims remain unaccounted for.
Sanford was killed during an exchange of gunfire with responding officers.
The FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement agencies are actively investigating the case, including Sanford’s motives.
Sanford, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served from 2004 to 2008, including a deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Records describe him as a mechanic and vehicle recovery operator. He was also known as a husband, father, and outdoorsman. Sanford had prior arrests for burglary and operating while intoxicated.
Armstrong’s family in the U.S. and South Africa are devastated by the loss. They described her as a woman of strength, love, and faith. She leaves behind her children and grandchildren, who are now mourning the irreplaceable absence of their beloved matriarch.
Her family has launched an appeal for support to help with funeral and memorial expenses, expressing gratitude for the compassion shown during this tragedy.
This attack comes less than 24 hours after another mass shooting in Southport, North Carolina, where a Marine veteran opened fire at a bar, killing three people and injuring eight others.
Both incidents involved Iraq War veterans, raising further questions as federal authorities review possible connections and wider implications.
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.