A 42-year-old man is facing serious charges, including terrorism and attempted murder, after stabbing 11 people at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan. The attacker used a folding knife to injure five men and six women, one of them was a Walmart employee, during the incident that happened on Saturday afternoon.
The victims, who range in age from 21 to 84, are all expected to recover from their injuries. The suspect, Bradford James Gille, is scheduled to appear in court on Monday or Tuesday.
Authorities have stated that the stabbings appeared to be random, and while they have not yet determined a specific motive, they believe the act was meant to instill fear in the community. This reasoning led to the terrorism charge being filed against Gille.
On Sunday, during a press conference, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said that an officer arrived at a Walmart just two minutes after the first emergency call was made. He explained that when the deputy got to the scene, several brave bystanders, whom was armed with a gun, were already confronting a man suspected of causing trouble in the parking lot.
Sheriff Shea mentioned that the reason behind the suspect’s actions is still unclear, and can’t find his motive. Investigators, along with agents from the FBI, have been interviewing him, which will be a crucial part of the ongoing investigation.
The suspect, identified as Mr. Gille, used a common folding knife with a blade that is about 3.5 inches long, and he entered the store at 4:10 p.m. and was in there until the attack began around 4:45 p.m. near the checkout area of the store. The Sheriff confirmed that Gille acted alone in the incident, and he was taken into custody within less than three minutes.
If convicted, Mr. Gille will face the maximum penalty, potentially resulting in a life sentence in prison, according to the Sheriff.