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.