Chaos unfolded at a Walmart in Michigan during a calm Saturday afternoon this past weekend. Authorities say Bradford Gille burst into the store and stabbed 11 people at random, leaving six in critical condition. The 42-year-old suspect is in police custody, and authorities are seeking to file terrorism and assault charges. Below is a mugshot of Gille. Investigators are still exploring a motive behind the attack.
For context, Traverse City is a popular vacation spot. Additionally, it is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses. T City is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Editor’s Note: This article was published on July 27, and updated on July 28 to reflect new comments from authorities on the arrest.
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Details About Walmart Stabbing Incident & Potential Charges (UPDATED)
Bradford Gille of Afton, Michigan, entered Walmart at 4:10 p.m. on Saturday and remained there for some time before starting his attack, authorities said. 911 calls began coming in to authorities at 4:43 p.m. and a sheriff’s deputy arrived at 4:46 p.m.
“I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough,” Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said at a news conference. “When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute.”
A group of bystanders also closed in on Bradford in the parking lot, and one person reportedly had a gun pointed at the 42-year-old, witnesses said. Shea said the “remarkable” efforts likely prevented Gille from harming others.
Bradford Gille used a foldable knife, specifically a 3 and 1/2-inch (nearly 9-centimeter) cutting blade, in the stabbings. Sheriff Michael Shea said Gille had “prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations.” Aside from not revealing his motive, Gille reportedly said very little as he was arrested.
Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought due to the fact that the attack impacted the community, rather than one individual. He is expected to be charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder.
“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. “So that is why we are looking at that terrorism charge.”
What Happened To The Victims In Walmart Incident?
Sheriff Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 29 to 84 and included one Walmart employee. Munson Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Schermerhorn, speaking at Sunday’s news conference, said one patient was treated and released. Two were in serious condition; and the rest are in fair condition. All were expected to survive.
Witnesses Describe Scene In Parking Lot
A witness, Steven Carter, was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a woman’s throat with a knife. About five minutes later, shoppers surrounded Bradford Gille in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man, “Drop the knife.”
In response, the male suspect reportedly said: “I don’t care, I don’t care.” He kept backing away from the crowd before someone tackled and subdued him.
“At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack,” said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. “And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.”
Tiffany DeFell said she was in the store’s parking lot when chaos erupted around her. The 36-year-old was shopping in Traverse City, and lives about 25 miles away in Honor, Michigan.
“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” DeFell said. “This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”
Walmart, Michigan Governor, & FBI Speak Out
In a statement, Walmart said it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation.
“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 said.
On Saturday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said:
“Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted on social media that bureau officials were responding to “provide any necessary support.”
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Associated Press writers Mike Householder and Ryan Sun contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
