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
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.