Suspect facing terrorism charge in stabbing of 11 people at Michigan Walmart
The suspect, whom authorities identified as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille of Cheboygan County, Michigan, allegedly entered the Walmart store in Traverse City, about 150 miles north of Grand Rapids, around 4:10 p.m. on Saturday and began attacking people with a folding knife, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said at a news conference on Sunday afternoon.
"It appears that these were all random acts," said Shea, adding that the attacks began near the checkout area.
Shea said investigators are combing through security video that recorded nearly all of the attack.
Witnesses helped law enforcement officers stop the attack and take the suspect in custody, Shea said.
Bystander video that surfaced online and was confirmed as authentic by the sheriff showed a group of citizens, including one who drew a handgun on the suspect, forcing him to drop his knife.
"What they did was amazing," said Shea, adding that the citizens likely saved others from being attacked.
Shea said a sheriff's deputy who was near the Walmart at the time of the attack responded to the scene in less than a minute and placed the suspect under arrest.
A motive for the attack remains under investigation, Shea said.
Shea said the suspect attacked the victims without any warning and without making any verbal threats. He said one person was stabbed just outside the store, another was stabbed in the vestibule of the store and the remaining nine victims were attacked inside the store.
The victims, six men and four women, ranged in ages from 29 to 84, Shea said, with three of the victims in their 80s and one in his 70s.
The victims were taken to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, with six of them initially listed in critical condition and the remaining five in serious condition, authorities said Saturday.
"Over the past 12 hours, we've seen encouraging signs of recovery from our patients," Munson Healthcare said in an updated statement on Sunday morning, which noted that seven of the stabbing victims were in fair condition and four were in serious condition. Officials said during the Sunday afternoon press conference that five of the stabbing victims were now in fair condition, four were in serious condition and one had been released from the hospital.
Shea said no other suspects are being sought in the attack: "We believe he acted alone at this time."
Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Moeggenberg said during Sunday's press conference that Gille is expected to be arraigned on Monday. Moeggenberg said he's charged with terrorism because he allegedly attempted to strike fear in the community.
"Thankfully no one else was injured," the sheriff said, adding, "Eleven is 11 too many but thank God it wasn't more."
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement on X that she was monitoring the situation.
"I'm in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City. Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence," she said.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a statement on social media that FBI personnel responded to the scene, "to provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart."
In a statement, a Walmart spokesperson said "Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we're thankful for the swift action of first responders. We'll continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation."
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