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A 42-year-old man faces terrorism charges in connection with a mass stabbing at a Michigan Walmart that left 11 people hurt.
Bradford James Gilley was identified as the suspect by authorities a day after the “random” attack at the center in Traverse City. Munson Healthcare, which was treating the victims, said one patient was treated and released, two were in serious condition and the rest were in fair condition.
One of the victims was identified as a Walmart employee. The victims were both men and women, and ranged in age from 21 to 84.
“We’ve have seen encouraging signs of recovery among our patients,” hospital spokesperson Megan Brown said, according to the Associated Press.
Gilley faces 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and one terrorism charge. He is being held at Grand Traverse County Jail, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Mike Shea said during a Sunday press conference.
Michigan State Police said the sheriff’s office was investigating, though current details on the suspect’s motivation remained limited. Authorities said Gilley entered the store Saturday afternoon and began to randomly stab shoppers.
Gilley was quickly subdued by some brave shoppers, including one who was armed, before authorities took him into custody. Walmart employees told Channel 2 NOW that no shots were fired during the exchange.
Shea, the sheriff, said the quick actions of bystanders likely saved lives.
“I cannot command everyone that was involved enough. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute,” Shea said. “That is remarkable. When you look at it in that mitigated Lord knows how many additional victims.”
Steven Carter was loading his truck outside Walmart when he saw a man cut a woman’s throat with a knife.
Carter told the Associated Press that within five minutes, the suspect was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group continually yelled at the man to “drop the knife,” Carter said, as the man reportedly replied, “I don’t care, I don’t care.”
Eventually, the man was tackled and subdued by one of the bystanders, Carter said.
“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.”
Another witness, Tiffany DeFell, 36, described the chaotic scene as being like “something you see out of the movies.”
“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”
The weapon used in the attacks appeared to be a folding-style knife, Shea said, noting the stabbings started near the store’s checkout counter and the victims were “not predetermined.”
“I’m in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City,” Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said on social media. “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.”
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino also announced that FBI agents were on the scene to assist local law enforcement.
Walmart corporate spokesperson Joe Pennington said that the company was “working with police and defer questions to them right now.”
A later statement from the company read: “Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders.”
