Garfield Township, MI — Bradford Gille, 42, of Afton, has been arrested after allegedly going on a stabbing spree at a Walmart in Garfield Township on Saturday.
Gille is facing charges of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder for attacking nearly a dozen individuals with a 3.5-inch “folding knife”. The victims, ranging in age from 29 to 84, included several elderly shoppers, with some in their 80s and 70s.
The Attack Unfolds
According to witnesses, Gille appeared to target vulnerable shoppers who “couldn’t physically get out of his way,” including those in wheelchairs. Julia Martell, a 30-year-old shopper who spoke to local NBC affiliates WPBN and WGTU, described the chaos inside the store.
“There was blood everywhere,” she said, describing victims as “sitting at the ends of aisles, just bleeding.”
One of the victims, a woman, reportedly had her throat slashed before Gille was stopped. Steven Carter, a Walmart delivery driver, said he witnessed the gruesome scene and claimed Gille showed no remorse, allegedly saying, “I don’t care,” when confronted by a group of citizens who helped subdue him.
The Citizens’ Heroic Intervention
The attack came to an end when multiple citizens, including one armed with a pistol, confronted the suspect in the Walmart parking lot. The Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Deputy arrived around 4:46 p.m., finding the group already detaining Gille. Police took the suspect into custody without further incident.
Gille’s Arrest and Investigation
Gille was booked at the Grand Traverse County Jail and was awaiting arraignment. Authorities have not yet determined a motive for the attack, and it remains unclear whether Gille made any statements to the police during interviews.
Community Shock
The incident has left the local community shaken. Tiffany DeFell, 36, a shopper at the store, shared her fear, saying, “It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out. This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”
Victims’ Conditions
As of Sunday, 11 people had been injured in the attack. The severity of their injuries has not been fully disclosed, though the victim list includes both men and women, with a significant number of elderly individuals among the injured.
The attack occurred just before 5 p.m. during a busy shopping period, making the scene even more chaotic and alarming for those present.
