Police have arrested a suspect in a violent stabbing spree at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, that left multiple victims with potentially life-threatening injuries. His name is Bradford James Gille and he’s 42. To effectuate the attack, Gille is said to have stabbed 11 different victims. Shoppers and employees immediately jumped to the suspect’s aid, working together to subdue and apprehend him.
According to Munson Medical Center, the local hospital, seven of the victims are in fair condition. At the same time, four others are still in critical condition. The hospital has begun to see “very encouraging signs of recovery” in those who were impacted. In the wake of the heroic act, the hospital is moving quickly to provide help to its employees. They are sharing emotional supports for everyone impacted by this violence.
Grand Traverse County prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg had a courageous claim to fame. The latter is what her office plans to seek as Gille’s new charge of terrorism, on top of the 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. She called the attack, which is still under investigation, “a very random act of violence” that was meant to intimidate the community.
Surveillance video from the attack captured the courageous citizens who challenged Gille outside the grocery store while the attack was still taking place. Kathryn Ann Clark, a fellow shopper, assisted in pinning Gille down with her friend’s son and another bystander. It was pure chaos,” she said, recalling the scene.
“It was definitely a stabbing,” – Kathryn Ann Clark
Witnesses recounted the panic that ensued. Tasha Nash, a Walmart employee who provided an eyewitness account of the harrowing scene,
“It was a guy with a knife – people were screaming and running in all directions … I saw someone stabbed in the eye.” – Tasha Nash
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement mourning for the lives lost and her community harmed by such violence. She gave credit to the quick reactions of first responders that prevented the spill from spreading further.
“Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence. I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.” – Gretchen Whitmer
Federal authorities have called for communities to stand strong and recover from violent acts against them. Shining a light on the broader implications of this attack, Moeggenberg stressed that this attack seems particularly aimed at causing fear in the community.
“We believe, in some ways, [it] was done to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community, and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis … so that is why we’re looking at that terrorist charge.” – Noelle Moeggenberg