Michigan Walmart stabbing case: Identified suspect to face terrorism, attempted murder charges

A man accused of stabbing 11 people at a Walmart in Michigan on Saturday is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said Sunday.

The suspect, identified as Bradford Gille of Afton, Michigan, allegedly entered the store and randomly attacked shoppers with a knife. He was later detained by a group of bystanders in the parking lot before police arrived. Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said the motive behind the attack remains unclear.

Gille, who has a criminal history involving assault and drug-related offenses, said little when taken into custody. He is expected to be charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. He remains in county jail.

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Sheriff Shea praised the quick action of both the public and law enforcement. Calls to 911 began at 4:43 p.m., and a deputy arrived just three minutes later. The suspect was restrained within a minute after the call. “That is remarkable,” Shea said. “Who knows how many more could’ve been hurt.”

Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said the terrorism charge is being applied because the attack was meant to instill fear across the community, not just harm individuals.

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“This wasn’t just about the victims,” she said. “It was about creating fear in the entire community.”

The victims, both men and women, ranged in age from 29 to 84 and included one Walmart employee. Doctors at Munson Medical Center said all 11 are expected to survive. As of Sunday, four were in serious condition and seven were stable or recovering.

One witness, Steven Carter, said he was loading his truck when he saw the attacker slit a woman’s throat. Moments later, a group of five or six people confronted the suspect in the parking lot. One held a gun and shouted “Drop the knife!” but the man kept saying, “I don’t care,” before he was tackled to the ground.

“At first, I thought it was a terror attack,” Carter said. “It was disbelief, fear, shock. But the crowd acted fast — he was down before the police even got there.”

The scene quickly filled with emergency vehicles, and authorities interviewed employees and witnesses at the store, which is part of a larger shopping center in Traverse City.

Tiffany DeFell, a local resident who was in the parking lot at the time, said the chaos was terrifying.

“It felt like something out of a movie,” she said. “You don’t expect this in your own neighborhood.”

Munson Healthcare confirmed all 11 victims were being treated for stab wounds, and hospital officials expressed hope as many began showing signs of recovery.