The chaos unfolded at Walmart in Michigan after a man rushed into the store during a gentle shopping afternoon and stabbed 11 people randomly, authorities say. Saturday’s attack left six casualties in crisis and the suspects were taken into custody.
The 42-year-old suspect entered the store before 5pm and stabbed the victim using a folding knife, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media statement. They were not immediately known about their age.
A sheriff’s aide arrived within minutes and took the man into custody.
Stephen Carter was loaded with a truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cutting a woman’s throat with a knife.
About five minutes later, we were surrounded by car park shoppers, including those who had guns. A group of five or six kept screaming at the man “drop the knife,” he said, and the man replied, “I don’t care, I don’t care.” He continued to retreat from the crowd before anyone could work on him and settle.
“I couldn’t believe it at first. I thought it was a scary attack,” said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. “And that was horror, disbelief, shock. It was amazing. And it all happened quickly, as if he had completely settled on the ground by the time the police arrived.”
The first responders in emergency vehicles and uniforms gathered in the car park at a shopping centre that houses several other retailers. Authorities were seen interviewing employees, wearing a blue uniform vest and name tag nearby as the response gave way to the investigation.
Tiffany Defel, 36, who lives in the honor of about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Traverse City, said she was in the store’s parking lot when she saw the chaos erupting around her.
“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just going crazy,” she said. “This is what you see from the film. It’s not what you expect to see where you live.”
Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people are receiving treatment at the largest hospital in the region in northern Michigan. Spokesman Megan Brown said everything was stabbing the victim. As of Sunday morning, four of the victims were in serious condition and seven were in fair condition, Brown said.
“We’ve seen signs of encouraged recovery among patients,” Brown said.
Sheriff Michael Shear said the weapon involved looked like a folding-style knife. Shea said the suspect is believed to be a Michigan resident but refused to share further details. Michigan State Police said the suspect was in custody of the authorities earlier that day.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said:
In a statement, Walmart said it will continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation. On Sunday, the spokesman said there was no details regarding the reopening of the store, and no updates exceeded the statement released late Saturday.
“This type of violence is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with the injured people and we are grateful for the prompt action of our first responders,” the statement said.
In a social media post, Dan Bongino, deputy director of the FBI, said that officials at the branch responded that they would “provide the support they need.”
Traverse City is a popular holiday destination on the shores of Lake Michigan. It is known for its Cherry Festival, Wineries and Lighthouses, and is located approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of the Sleeping Beardens National Lakeshore.
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