Chaos unfolded at a Walmart in Michigan during a calm Saturday afternoon. Authorities say a man burst into the store and stabbed 11 people at random, leaving six in critical condition. The 42-year-old suspect is in police custody. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said:
“Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”
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More Details About Walmart Stabbing Incident & Aftermath
The male suspect entered Walmart shortly before 5 p.m. and used a knife to stab the victims, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on social media. The victim’s ages weren’t immediately known. A sheriff’s deputy arrived within minutes and took the man into custody.
Sheriff Michael Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife. Shea said the suspect is likely a Michigan resident but declined to share further details. Michigan State Police had said on Saturday that the suspect was in the authorities’ custody.
Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the region’s largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. Six people were critical and five were in serious condition late Saturday, she said. Authorities are expected to provide an update on the victims’ condition early Sunday.
Witnesses Describe Scene In Parking Lot
A witness, Steven Carter, was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a woman’s throat with a knife. About five minutes later, 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.” In response, the male suspect reportedly said: “I don’t care, I don’t care.” He kept backing away from the crowd before someone tackled and subdued him.
“At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack,” said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. “And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.”
Tiffany DeFell said she was in the store’s parking lot when chaos erupted around her. The 36-year-old was shopping in Traverse City, and lives about 25 miles away in Honor, Michigan.
“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” DeFell said. “This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”
Walmart & FBI Speak Out About Stabbing
In a statement, Walmart said it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation.
“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” the statement said.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino posted on social media that bureau officials were responding to “provide any necessary support.”
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Associated Press writers Mike Householder and Ryan Sun contributed to this report via AP Newsroom.
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