A peaceful weekend turned into a nightmare when a man in Michigan went on a violent stabbing spree at a Walmart store. The shocking incident left many injured and has stunned the local community. Here’s what happened.
Man Attacks Shoppers With a Knife Inside Walmart
On Saturday evening around 5 p.m., police received several emergency calls from shoppers at a Walmart in Garfield Township, Michigan. According to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, a man identified as Bradford Gille, 42, from Afton, used a 3.5-inch folding knife to stab 11 people in the store.
The attack appeared random, but some witnesses believe he was targeting elderly shoppers and those in wheelchairs.
Victims Include Elderly Shoppers and Women
The people who got hurt ranged in age from 29 to 84. Three of them were in their 80s, and one was 70 years old. Julia Martell, a 30-year-old woman who was in the store, told news reporters that it seemed like the man was attacking people who couldn’t move quickly. “There was blood everywhere,” she said, describing the terrifying scene.
Citizens Step In to Stop the Attacker
While the attack shocked everyone, some brave people took action. As the man tried to leave the store and head to the parking lot, a group of citizens stopped him.
One of them even had a pistol and helped keep the attacker from hurting anyone else. A nearby police officer arrived just two minutes later, at 4:46 p.m., and arrested Gille without any more violence.
No Motive Known Yet
Police are still trying to understand why Gille did this. So far, he hasn’t told investigators anything useful, and officials have not found any clear reason behind the attack.
He has been charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. He is now being held in the Grand Traverse County Jail, awaiting his court appearance.
Witnesses Still Shaken After the Attack
Many people who saw the attack are still shocked and scared. One shopper, Tiffany DeFell, said she and her sister were terrified. “This is something you see in movies,” she said.
Another witness, Steven Carter, a Walmart delivery driver, said he saw Gille cut a woman’s throat. Carter also said Gille shouted, “I don’t care, I don’t care,” when the crowd stopped him.
This incident has left the community deeply disturbed. A normal shopping day turned into a tragic event because of one man’s violent actions. Thanks to the quick thinking and courage of regular citizens and police, more lives were likely saved. Authorities continue their investigation to understand what led to such a horrifying attack.
