U.S. and Michigan flags should be flown at half-staff through Friday, Oct. 3, to honor the victims of the shooting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Genesee County, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said on Sept. 28.
A fatal attack on a Grand Blanc Township church on Sept. 28 left at least five people dead, including the gunman, and at least eight people hospitalized, police said.
The Grand Blanc Township Police Department said an armed 40-year-old man, later identified as Thomas Jacob Sanford, rammed a pickup truck into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at about 10:25 a.m. Sunday, during services and opened fire on hundreds of people gathered inside.
He also set the building ablaze before police officers arrived and shot and killed him.
The mass shooting left the mid-Michigan community, and the country reeling.
“My heart is breaking for this community,” Whitmer said in ordering flags lowered. “Violence anywhere, especially in a place of worship, is unacceptable. I am grateful to the first responders who took action quickly. To honor those we have lost, I am ordering flags to be lowered across Michigan. Our state is in mourning alongside the victims, their families, and the entire community in Grand Blanc Township.”
Where should flags fly at half-staff?
Michigan residents, businesses, schools, local governments, and other organizations are encouraged to display the flag at half-staff, the governor said in a news release.
How to lower flag to half-staff
To lower flags to half-staff, flags should be hoisted first to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The process is reversed before the flag is lowered for the day.
What is the difference between ‘half-staff’ and ‘half-mast’?
Flagpoles on the ground or buildings are called staffs. Flags lowered on shore are called half-staff, according to Americanflags.com.
Half-mast refers to flags lowered on a ship, while flagpoles are called staffs.
When will flags return to full staff?
Flags should be returned to full staff on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025.
For what other reasons are flags lowered to half-staff?
Certain holidays and events when flags are flown at half-staff in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website are:
Detroit Free Press reporters contributed reporting.
Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan’s flags are at half staff today. Here’s why they’ve been lowered
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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