11 stabbed in ‘random’ Walmart knife attack, suspect held

A man accused of entering a Walmart in Michigan and randomly stabbing 11 shoppers before being detained by several bystanders in the car park is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said on Sunday.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive behind the attack by Bradford Gille of Afton, Michigan, remains unclear. Gille, who Shea said had “prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations”, said very little as he was detained by authorities.

He is expected to be charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder. He remains in the county prison.

Shea praised the quick response from police who arrived within three minutes after receiving the call about the stabbing. He also commended a group of bystanders who intervened and detained Gille in the car park. Calls began coming in to police at 4.43pm on Saturday and a sheriff’s deputy arrived at 4.46pm.

“I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute,” Shea said at a press conference. “That is remarkable.”

Gille’s name did not appear on Sunday in Michigan’s online prison records. Messages left on Sunday with phone numbers and an email listed for Gille were not immediately returned. His previous court cases did not have a lawyer’s name listed in public records.