Armed civilian thwarts Michigan man’s knife attack at Walmart that injured 11

Michigan authorities said Sunday that an armed civilian and other bystanders helped put an end to a knife-wielding man’s rampage that began inside a Walmart and wounded 11.

The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office said citizens stepped in to apprehend Bradford James Gille, 42, in the stabbing spree that left two people in serious condition a day after the random attack. One of the 11 victims is a store employee.

“First of all, I commend them. It’s not very often that we have citizens that are willing to step up and take action, and I ask that we grant them the privacy that they need,” Sheriff Michael Shea said Sunday.

“Right now, if they choose to make a public statement, they will, but I would ask that we all just give them a little space and say ‘attaboy,’” he added.

Authorities said multiple citizens, including one who was armed with a pistol, confronted Mr. Gille in the parking lot to stop his frenzy.

Witness videos on social media show a pistol-carrying man training his firearm on the suspect and ordering him to throw his knife away. Two other men are seen surrounding the suspect after he seemingly discards the weapon.

The video also briefly pans over to a blurred-out victim, who appears to be doubled over from a stab wound near the Walmart entrance.

The sheriff’s office said a deputy rushed to the megastore minutes later and arrested Mr. Gille without incident around 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

Besides assault, authorities are also considering charges of terrorism in the incident, though nothing had been filed by Sunday afternoon. The victims range in age from 29 to 84, and include six men and five women.

Police said they do not know the motive, and the suspect has been mum when speaking with investigators.

“Any time there is a mass incident like this, where someone does something that appears, at least, to be very just a very random act of violence. It’s something that is done … to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community, and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis. So that is why we’re looking at that terrorism charge,” Grand Traverse County Prosecuting Attorney Noelle Moeggenberg.

Authorities said the suspect used a folding-style knife in the attack, which started near the store’s checkout area.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wrote on X. “I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.”

Walmart said it is working with police to aid in the investigation.