Authorities say a guy from Michigan went on a stabbing rampage at a Walmart over the weekend, stabbing almost a dozen people with a 3.5-inch “folding knife” before being apprehended by “multiple citizens” in the parking lot, one of whom was carrying a pistol.
The Grand Traverse Sheriff’s Office reports that Bradford Gille, 42, of Afton, is charged with one count of terrorism and eleven counts of assault with intent to murder for allegedly stabbing eleven people at a Walmart in Garfield Township.
Speaking about the afternoon chaos, 30-year-old Julia Martell said it seemed Gille was targeting elderly customers who “couldn’t physically get out of his way” and “people in wheelchairs.”
Men and women ranging in age from 29 to 84 are listed as victims, along with three individuals in their 80s and a 70-year-old.
When Martell said, “There was blood everywhere,” “There were people kind of sitting at the ends of aisles, just bleeding.”
People at the scene called police about the stabbing spree, and they arrived at the Walmart at approximately 5 p.m. on Saturday. Gille was reportedly stopped by a group of “citizens” in the parking area of the store.
“A Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Deputy was near the location and arrived at 4:46 pm,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement released on Sunday. “When the deputy arrived, a number of people, one of whom was carrying a weapon, were battling the male suspect in the parking lot and stopping him from hurting anyone else or fleeing. Without any more incidents, the deputy apprehended the suspect.
Police claim that a reason for the attack has “not been determined” and that Gille may have spoken to them during interviews.
“It was quite frightening. The Associated Press quoted 36-year-old shopper Tiffany DeFell as saying, “My sister and I were just freaking out.” “This is something that you see in films. Where you live, it’s not what you expected to see.”
Before Gille was allegedly stopped, Steven Carter, a Walmart delivery driver, told the AP that he witnessed a woman’s throat being sliced. Carter claims that Gille allegedly said, “I don’t care, I don’t care,” to the group that assisted in his subduement.
Gille was awaiting arraignment on Sunday after being arrested at the Grand Traverse County Jail.
