A U.S. Marine veteran is credited with helping stop a stabbing spree that left 11 shoppers seriously wounded inside a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan.
Marine veteran hailed for stopping rampage
Derrick Perry, a Marine Corps veteran, confronted the suspect with a drawn weapon, and ordered him to surrender.
Perry, 52, was captured on video standing in the parking lot of the store, holding a firearm and commanding the attacker to put down his knife.
“Drop the knife now! Throw it away! Throw it away right now!” Perry shouted as he advanced toward the suspect, who backed away slowly with a blade in hand.
@detroit_news Shoppers and bystanders confronted a stabbing suspect after 11 people were stabbed Saturday in a Walmart store near Traverse City, and a 42-year-old male suspect is in custody, according to authorities. Video also shows the suspect getting arrested by Grand Traverse County Sheriff officers. The man was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man “drop the knife,” he said, and the man responded: “I don’t care, I don’t care.” He kept backing away from the crowd, before someone tackled and subdued him. Link in bio. Video provided by @DadOf3 and AP. #detroitnews #walmart #traversecity #traversecitymichigan #michigannews
Others could be seen flanking Perry, helping to corner the man without the use of lethal force.
Authorities later identified the suspect as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille of Afton, Michigan.
Gille, officials say, was acting alone when he entered the Walmart armed with a folding knife with a 3.5-inch blade and began attacking unsuspecting shoppers.
Despite the chaos, no shots were fired. Perry and two other men managed to hold the suspect at gunpoint until deputies arrived and placed him under arrest. No additional injuries occurred after the citizens intervened.
“I’m not a hero. I am a guy who tried to do the right thing,” Perry told reporters outside his home.
Another individual who jumped into action that day was 39-year-old Matthew Kolakowski, also a U.S. Marine veteran.
Recalling the confrontation, he stated, “I wasn’t gonna let him go, I knew that. He wasn’t going to get away from me.”
According to Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea, Gille is facing a series of serious charges, including 11 counts of assault with intent to murder and one count of terrorism.
Sheriff credit’s marine veteran and others for stopping stabbing spree
Shea noted the swift action taken by Perry and the others may have prevented additional casualties.
“What they did was amazing,” Shea told the media. “First of all, I commend them. It’s not very often that we have citizens that are willing to step up and take action.”
Sheriff’s deputies had already been searching for Gille the night before the incident, after receiving a court order to bring him into custody.
Specific details about that order remain unclear. However, officials noted that Gille had no permanent residence and was known to be homeless in Emmet County.
“Regrettably, less than 24 hours after receiving this order, a tragic series of events occurred in Traverse City,” the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office wrote in a social media statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this devastating situation.”
Gille’s criminal record spans multiple offenses across Michigan. Court documents outline past charges for aggravated assault, assault with a dangerous weapon, public intoxication, drug possession.
In one bizarre case, he was charged with the destruction of tombs and memorials. That particular charge was dropped after Gille was found incompetent to stand trial.
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The 11 victims of Saturday’s rampage ranged in age from 29 to 84. Officials with Munson Healthcare confirmed all were expected to survive.
By Monday morning, one patient had been discharged, five remained in fair condition, two in good, one in serious, and two others had been transferred after receiving initial treatment.
One shopper inside the store when the violence broke out described the terror of coming face-to-face with the suspect.
Julia Martell said she was simply browsing when she heard a disturbance nearby. Moments later, she found herself in the path of the attacker.
“I’m still sitting and grappling with the weight of realizing that it was kind of a life-or-death moment,” Martell said.
Law enforcement received the initial emergency call around 4:43 p.m. Saturday.
According to Shea, a deputy arrived on the scene approximately two minutes later, by which time the armed civilians had already neutralized the threat.
“At the time of the deputy’s arrival, multiple citizens, including one who was armed with a pistol, were confronting the male suspect in the parking lot and preventing him from harming further people and leaving,” the sheriff said.
Gille hit with terrorism charges
The suspect was taken into custody without incident and was later charged. During a court appearance on Monday, Gille was arraigned on all counts.
Throughout the hearing, he made multiple unsolicited comments, prompting his attorney to caution him and the judge to mute his microphone at one point.
His bond was set at $100,000 cash or surety. A probable cause hearing has been scheduled for August 6, with a preliminary examination set for August 12.
During Sunday’s press conference, Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg said the terrorism charge stemmed from the belief that the attack was intended to cause disruption on a broader scale.
“That is why we’re looking at that terrorism charge,” she said. “We believe it was in some ways done to affect the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis.”
Walmart spokesperson Joe Pennington released a statement following the attack, calling the incident “unacceptable” and noting the company’s appreciation for first responders.
“Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” Pennington said.
As of now, investigators have not disclosed a motive behind the stabbing spree.
Sheriff Shea has publicly acknowledged the bravery displayed during the confrontation and urged media outlets to respect the privacy of those involved.
“If they choose to make a public statement, they will. But I would ask that we all just give them a little space and say, attaboy,” Shea stated.
