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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Walmart hero reveals how he detained 'wild-eyed' knifeman after stabbing spree
The hero Marine who risked his life to save Walmart shoppers from a deranged knifeman has shared harrowing new details about the 'terror' rampage. Derrick Perry pulled out a concealed firearm and held knifeman Bradford James Gille at gunpoint u ntil officers arrived at the scene. The 42-year-old Gille had already stabbed 11 people inside the Michigan Walmart and has now been charged with terrorism and assault with intent to murder. Perry told ABC's Good Morning America he dropped his groceries and chased Gille out of the Walmart and into the parking lot along with a group of other men. The hospital worker said he pulled his gun on Gille in an effort to get him to drop his weapon and stop moving, but he never intended to pull the trigger. 'There was kind of a mob mentality and some very disturbing things were being said on how to deal with the situation,' Perry said, revealing there were people in the crowd who had gathered around him urging him to pull the trigger. 'I had to block all of that out and focus on him [Gille] because … I ultimately just wanted him to put the knife down and back away until law enforcement got there.' 'I did not see myself as any type of judge, jury or executioner. I just wanted everyone to be safe.' Perry said Gille had a 'wild-eyed' glare and 'did not look like he was in his right mind.' 'He was saying ''they told me to do it, they told me to do it. Call 911'',' Perry recalled. Perry said even as his weapon was drawn, he was trying to de-escalate the situation and understand Gille. He acknowledged that he was in a position to 'do something very rash' but instead chose to focus on de-escalating and encouraging Gille to 'surrender on his own accord.' The Michigan father has been widely praised as a hero, with calls for him to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In spite of the recognition he has received, Perry insists he is no hero and noted that there were a handful of men who tried to intervene. 'The only thing that separated me from the other gentlemen that had stepped in as well was what I was carrying in my hands,' he said. 'I think I would have ran out there or walked out there and helped either way. It was just a moment of, ''I got a duty to protect.'' But bystanders credited Perry for potentially saving the lives of many more shoppers. His intervention stopped Gille in his tracks and gave frightened onlookers a chance to flee. Grand Traverse Sheriff Sheriff Michael Shea acknowledged the heroic actions of several men on Sunday, adding: 'I would ask that we all just give them a little space and say atta boy.' 'For all of those people that were involved – First of all, I commend them. It's not very often that we have citizens that are willing to step up and take action.' While Shea did not reference Perry by name, he did acknowledge he had seen the video and the viral comments praising the heroic men involved. He said they would come forward and make a public statement in their own time if they wished to do so, and celebrated the 'collaboration that took place.' 'From the citizen involvement to all emergency services, to our transport teams, to Munson Medical Center, to the media, it is unbelievable,' he said. 'Lets just give them some space... grant them the privacy they need right now... and say atta boy.' Supporters online praised Perry for carrying a concealed firearm and being prepared to use the weapon responsibly. Gille allegedly entered the store during a calm shopping afternoon and randomly stabbed the victims with a folding pocket knife, authorities say 'This is what the Second Amendment is all about,' one supporter said, praising Perry for his heroic actions. 'You are a true hero and this town is blessed for people like you,' another wrote. Perry's daughter described her father's instinct to help as a 'proud daughter moment', while his daughter-in-law added that he is a 'true hero.' 'So proud of him for protecting so many,' she added. Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg, the county prosecutor, told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought due to the fact that investigators believe Gille intended to 'affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community, and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis.' The horrific attack unfolded at the Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday afternoon. Gille allegedly entered the store during a calm shopping afternoon and randomly stabbed the victims with a folding pocket knife, authorities say. Moeggenberg called the attack 'a very random act of violence.' Shea praised the quick response from law enforcement officers who arrived within three minutes after receiving the call about the stabbing. Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 21 to 84. One victim was a Walmart employee. Munson Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Schermerhorn said at a press conference Sunday that one patient was treated and released; two were in serious condition; and the rest are in fair condition. Walmart said in a statement Saturday that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. On Sunday, a spokesman said he didn't have any details about the store reopening and had no updates beyond the statement released late Saturday. 'Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we're thankful for the swift action of first responders,' the statement read.
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Traverse City Walmart stabbing suspect facing terrorism and assault charges, pleads not guilty
A 42-year-old Michigan man accused of carrying out a knife attack at a Traverse City Walmart has been charged with terrorism following the attack that injured 11 people over the weekend. Bradford James Gille, of Afton, Michigan, was also charged with 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. He was arraigned on Monday in the 86th District Court, appearing via Zoom from Grand Traverse County jail, and he pleaded not guilty. Gille is accused of using a folding knife with a 3.5-inch blade to attack five men and six women, including one store employee, late Saturday afternoon. The victims' ages range from 21 to 84 years old. When the judge asked Gille how to pronounce his name on Monday, he said, "I don't want to talk to you." He later told the judge that he doesn't currently have a mailing address. Gille has a history of mental illness and a criminal background that include assault and malicious destruction of property, according to Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg. The prosecutor said Sunday that the terrorism charge is due the knife attack's impact on the community of about 16,000 people along Lake Michigan. "It's something that is done not to individual people, not to those individual victims — obviously they are most affected — but it is, we believe, in some ways done to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis," Moeggenberg said, according to the Associated Press. Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea on Sunday said law enforcement was notified of the attack around 4:43 p.m. Saturday, and sheriff's deputies arrived at the store around two minutes later. "At the time of the deputy's arrival, multiple citizens, including one who was armed with a pistol, were confronting the male suspect in the parking lot and preventing him from harming further people and leaving," Shea said. "The deputy took the suspect into custody without further incident." Authorities are still working to determine the motive behind the stabbing attack. "As far as a motive, that's yet to be determined," Shea said. "Our detectives, with assistance from the FBI, interviewed him at length, and that will be part of the investigation as it moves forward." The victims are being treated at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. The conditions of those stabbed are improving, according to Munson Healthcare officials, and Dr. Tom Schirmerhorn, chief medical officer of Munson Medical Center, said all victims are expected to survive. As of Monday afternoon, one patient remains in serious condition, five are in fair condition, two are in good condition, two others have been treated and transferred and one patient has been treated and released. Free mental health counseling is available for victims and community members at the Northwestern Michigan College Innovation Center in Traverse City, Monday through Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. No appointment is necessary. A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available by calling 833-295-0616.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Traverse City Walmart stabbing suspect charged
A 42-year-old Michigan man accused of carrying out a knife attack at a Traverse City Walmart has been charged. Bradford James Gille, of Afton, Michigan, was charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. Gille is accused of using a folding knife with a 3.5-inch blade to attack five men and six women, including one store employee, late Saturday afternoon. The victims' ages range from 21 to 84 years old. On Sunday, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said law enforcement was notified of the attack around 4:43 p.m. Saturday, and sheriff's deputies arrived at the store around two minutes later. "At the time of the deputy's arrival, multiple citizens, including one who was armed with a pistol, were confronting the male suspect in the parking lot and preventing him from harming further people and leaving," Shea said. "The deputy took the suspect into custody without further incident." Authorities are still working to determine the motive behind the stabbing attack. "As far as a motive, that's yet to be determined," Shea said. "Our detectives, with assistance from the FBI, interviewed him at length, and that will be part of the investigation as it moves forward." The victims are being treated at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. The conditions of those stabbed are improving, according to Munson Healthcare officials, and Dr. Tom Schirmerhorn, chief medical officer of Munson Medical Center, said all victims are expected to survive. As of Monday afternoon, one patient remains in serious condition, five are in fair condition, two are in good condition, two others have been treated and transferred and one patient has been treated and released. Free mental health counseling is available for victims and community members at the Northwestern Michigan College Innovation Center in Traverse City, Monday through Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. No appointment is necessary. A 24-hour crisis hotline is also available by calling 833-295-0616.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Michigan Walmart stabbing: What we know about the attack, the suspect
A weekend stabbing spree at a Michigan Walmart initially left 11 injured, including six critically. As of the latest update, 10 people remain hospitalized and are being treated for their injuries, according to officials. The attack began at the Traverse City store around 4:43 p.m. local time on July 26. At a July 27 press conference, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea identified the suspect as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille, who was taken into custody after being subdued by bystanders. Shea said Gille is expected to face one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. Here's everything we know so far. Michigan Walmart stabbing: 11 wounded; suspect faces terror, attempted murder charges How many people were injured in the Michigan Walmart stabbing? Nine of the stabbings occurred in the store. One person was stabbed in the vestibule and one outside the store, Shea said. In the aftermath of the attack, six people were in critical condition and five were in serious condition, Munson Healthcare said July 26. By the afternoon of July 27, two victims remained in serious condition, eight were in fair condition and one person had been released, Munson Healthcare said in a release. The victims – five females and six males – range in age from 29 to 84 and include one Walmart employee, according to the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office. Dr. Tom Schermerhorn, Munson's chief medical officer, said July 27 that all the victims are expected to survive. Who is the suspect in the Michigan Walmart stabbing spree? Bradford James Gille, 42, was identified as the suspect in the Walmart stabbing spree. Bystanders at the store helped subdue Gille before officers arrived on scene and took him into custody, Shea said. Gille is likely to face one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said he is expected to be arraigned early this week. Shea said Gille, who is from Afton, about 80 miles north of Traverse City, has a history of "assaultive type allegations as well as controlled substance." He said no motive had been determined, but that the FBI and local investigators were interviewing the suspect. Investigators are also reviewing video surveillance from the store, Shea said. 'We're all scared for our lives': Walmart employee recalls Anna Luke, 20, was working at a cash register when she heard someone yell, "'run, someone's got a knife,'" she told the Detroit Free Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. Everyone around her heeded the call and ran out to the parking lot, she said. "We're all scared for our lives," said Luke, who was in her second week on the job. Outside, she encountered one of the co-workers she met at orientation. The two cried and hugged. Her co-worker told her that she had blood on her shoes, Luke said. Traverse City, on the upper part of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, is home to over 15,000 people. The city, about 250 miles north of Detroit, sits on a bay off Lake Michigan and is a popular tourist destination. 'Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we're thankful for the swift action of first responders," Joe Pennington, Walmart spokesperson, previously told USA TODAY. Pennington said the retail giant will "continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation.' Contributing: Jonathan Limehouse, Bart Jansen, Natalie Davies, USA TODAY Network. Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan Walmart stabbing: 11 injured, Bradford Gille facing charges
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Emmet County Sheriff's Office was searching for suspect before Traverse City stabbings
PETOSKEY — Emmet County Sheriff's Office deputies were searching for Bradford James Gille over the weekend, but the 42-year-old was not located before he carried out a mass stabbing at a Walmart in Traverse City. According to a statement from Emmet County Sheriff Matt Leirstein, a court order was received around 5 p.m. on Friday, July 25 from the 7th Probate Court of Emmet County. The order instructed deputies to detain Gille, a homeless man with no known address in Emmet County. In a press conference on Sunday, July 27, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said Gille was from Afton in Cheboygan County. Gille's last known location was reportedly the North Country Inn in Cheboygan, where he had stayed until several months ago. More: Law enforcement to seek terrorism charge in Traverse City Walmart mass stabbing More: Walmart employee in recalling stabbing spree: 'I still can't believe this happened' Deputies began searching for Gille Friday night and continued into Saturday, passing the search along to the oncoming shift, the sheriff's office said. Despite their efforts, deputies were unable to locate Gille before the violence occurred. 'Regrettably, less than 24 hours after receiving this order, a tragic series of events occurred in Traverse City,' stated the Monday, July 28 press release. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this devastating situation.' Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you Gille is now in custody and faces multiple charges, including terrorism and assault with intent to murder, in connection with the July 26 stabbing spree, which injured 11 people. As of Monday, Munson Medical Center was reporting that one patient remains in serious condition, five patients are listed in fair condition, two patients are in good condition, two patients have been treated and transferred, and one patient has been treated and released. Authorities said Gille has a long history of mental illness and criminal charges spanning multiple counties. In a 2007 Petoskey News-Review article, Gille's mother, Beverly Gille, described the struggles her son was facing. She said he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia as a teenager, and he had been in and out of the Emmet County Jail for a variety of misdemeanor offenses. As the investigation into the mass stabbing continues, the Emmet County Sheriff's Office emphasized its commitment to transparency and said it would continue to share information with the public. 'This press release is issued by the Emmet County Sheriff's Office to provide clarity and reassurance to the community amid ongoing events and investigations,' Leirstein wrote. — Contact reporter Annie Doyle at 231-675-0099 or adoyle@ This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Emmet County deputies were searching for suspect Bradford Gille before Traverse City stabbings Solve the daily Crossword
