Man Arrested After Stabbing 11 People at Michigan Walmart

A 42-year-old man with a history of prior arrests has been identified as the suspect responsible for stabbing 11 individuals at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday afternoon. The attacker, Bradford James Gille, is now in custody and faces charges of terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder.

Gille reportedly entered the store around 4:43 p.m. wielding a folding knife and began stabbing patrons. Authorities shared an image of the weapon used in the assault, which was a knife captured during the investigation.

Within three minutes of the attack, a sheriff’s deputy arrived and quickly detained Gille. Bystanders, including a man armed with a pistol, assisted in restraining him until law enforcement took over. The sheriff praised the community’s quick action, noting that citizens don’t often step up in such situations.

Victims ranged in age from 29 to 85, with six over 60, but all are expected to recover. Gille, who hails from Afton, Michigan, and previously resided in Cheboygan, is known to have multiple prior arrests for criminal mischief and drug offenses. He also served nearly seven weeks in jail in Florida in 2014 for vandalism.

Two self-published books suggest Gille identified as a born-again Christian and often turned to prayer. One book describes dreams that trace his past lives back millions of years, with some dreams portraying him as Jesus Christ or God alongside Judas Iscariot.

Authorities confirmed they are confident Gille is the perpetrator and indicated he is expected to be arraigned soon. He remains detained at the Grand Traverse County Jail.