| Written by Joyce Nzomo |
A 42-year-old man is facing terrorism and attempted murder charges after allegedly stabbing 11 people at a Walmart store in Michigan.
The suspect, identified as Bradford James Gille, reportedly used a folding knife to attack five men and six women including a store employee on Saturday afternoon in Traverse City. The victims, aged between 21 and 84, are all expected to recover.
Authorities said the attack appeared random, and although a motive hasn’t been confirmed, the terrorism charge was considered appropriate due to the apparent intent to instill fear and cause widespread harm within the community.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea told reporters that officers arrived at the scene within two minutes of the first emergency call. By then, several shoppers one of whom was armed had cornered the suspect in the parking lot to stop further harm. The suspect was taken into custody without resistance.
Sheriff Shea added that detectives, with support from the FBI, had conducted an extensive interview with Gille, which would be critical in the ongoing investigation.
Walmart spokesperson Joe Pennington condemned the violence, expressing sympathy for the victims and appreciation for the quick response by emergency services.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino confirmed that federal agents were assisting local law enforcement, while Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer called the incident a “brutal act of violence” and sent her support to the affected community.
