GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — 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, where a gunman drove into the church, opened fire on congregants, and set the building ablaze.
Howard’s family described him as a devoted husband, uncle, and friend whose life was rooted in kindness, curiosity, and love for his family. In a tribute shared after his death, relatives remembered him as someone who could balance wit with wisdom, offering both humor and thoughtful insights during family gatherings. “Uncle Pat was so many things. He was smart, kind, funny, serious, and endlessly curious,” the family wrote. “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 warm presence at the dinner table, where a raised brow or knowing smile often preceded either a sharp-witted remark or a perfectly timed fact. “In my mind, I see him mid-conversation,” one family member said. “Whatever it was, I wanted to be around that table.” His sudden death, they said, has left an irreplaceable void.
To honor his memory, relatives have launched a fundraiser to support Howard’s wife, Kitty, with funeral and burial expenses. They also encouraged people to carry on Howard’s legacy through acts of kindness, whether donating to the cause or simply extending generosity in daily life. “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,” the family urged.
The shooting occurred on the morning of September 28, 2025, when 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, Michigan, drove his pickup truck into the church before firing on congregants with an assault rifle. He later set the building on fire, triggering a blaze that caused the roof to collapse. Authorities confirmed that at least four victims, including Howard, were killed, while eight others sustained injuries. Sanford himself died during an exchange of gunfire with police.
The FBI, ATF, and local law enforcement agencies continue to investigate Sanford’s motive. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sanford had a history of burglary and intoxicated driving arrests. Officials have confirmed the church building is a total loss, and search teams remain at the scene to ensure no additional victims are discovered.