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.