ABC News Authorities in Michigan say a man entered a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday afternoon armed with a folding knife and stabbed 11 people before being taken into custody.
The attack began unfolding at 4:43 p.m., the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office said in a statement posted online.
The victims were being treated at the Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. As of Saturday evening, six of the victims were in critical condition and five were in serious condition, the hospital said in an update online.
At a news conference Saturday evening, Grand Traverse Sheriff Michael Shea said the victims include six males and five females. Authorities have not yet provided the ages of any of the victims.
The suspect has been identified by authorities only as a 42-year-old man.
"We believe he acted alone at this time," Shea said during the news conference. "There is no information indicating there were additional suspects."
The sheriff said a deputy arrived at the Walmart within 3 minutes of a 911 call being made about the stabbing and took the suspect into custody. The sheriff also credited "citizen involvement" with apprehending the suspect, who was armed with a folding knife, he said.
"Thankfully no one else was injured," the sheriff said, adding "11 is 11 too many -- but thank God it wasn't more."
The sheriff said the suspected appeared to attack the victims at random.
"It appears that these were all random acts," the sheriff said.
He said the incident began near the checkout area.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement on X that she was monitoring the situation.
"I'm in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City. Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence," she said.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a statement on social media that FBI personnel were responding to the scene, "to provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart."
State police asked people to avoid the area as the investigation continues.
In a statement, a Walmart spokesperson said: "Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we're thankful for the swift action of first responders. We'll continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation."
Traverse City, a city of about 16,000 people, is in northern Michigan, about 150 miles north of Grand Rapids.
July 27, 2025, 10:31 AM
old rugged cross
So who is he and what was his problem/motive. How long to we have to wait for that?
Prayers for all that were injured.
"Practice like you want to play in the game"
July 27, 2025, 10:32 AM
gearhounds
“Confronted” by citizens? Someone needed to confront his frontal lobe with a 124 grain pill.
“Remember to get vaccinated or a vaccinated person might get sick from a virus they got vaccinated against because you’re not vaccinated.” - author unknown
July 27, 2025, 10:34 AM
Gustofer
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189: That part doesn’t seem to have made the news :
Nor does the identity of the stabber.
________________________________________________________ It is long past time for a Convention of States. The Founding Fathers gave us this tool to fix an out of control government and we need to use it.
July 27, 2025, 10:36 AM
cas
quote:
Originally posted by gearhounds: Someone needed to confront his frontal lobe with a 124 grain pill.
No one wants to volunteer to throw their life away and I can't say I blame them.
I hate the term "hot take", but.. just watching his body movements, I'd vote he's just some idiot mook, or a nutter/homeless type.
July 27, 2025, 10:37 AM
trapper189
I posted this because of the guy with the gun defending himself and others. I’ve adjusted the thread title accordingly.
July 27, 2025, 10:49 AM
Aglifter
From the video I saw, it looks like a black fellow with dreads was the one carrying and some White homeless looking guy was the one with the knife.
Hard to tell who had the gun. There were a few men standing together telling someone to drop the knife, but I think the black guy was the one with the gun, off should position.
Might have been an off duty cop, etc. (Someone, I think him, was yelling to drop the knife, lay down, etc.)
July 27, 2025, 11:01 AM
YooperSigs
Some reports are saying an off duty Deputy was involved in holding the guy.
End of Earth: 2 Miles Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
July 27, 2025, 11:02 AM
P-220
A good guy with a gun. The world is a better place because of him.
I hope this does not go South for him.
Niech Zyje P-220
Steve
July 27, 2025, 11:06 AM
dsiets
quote:
Originally posted by YooperSigs: Some reports are saying an off duty Deputy was involved in holding the guy.
That's pretty long hair for someone working the streets in uniform. Unless he's a deputy in some other capacity.
July 27, 2025, 11:17 AM
V-Tail
quote:
Originally posted by dsiets:
That's pretty long hair for someone working the streets in uniform. Unless he's a deputy in some other capacity.
Undercover? Vice? Narcotics?
הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים
July 27, 2025, 11:44 AM
220-9er
A couple of observations.
Those bystanders got way too close to a knife for their own good, and the guy with the gun had every right to shoot, and probably should have, given the proximity of a lot of other potential victims.
The bystanders seemed to get some unwarranted courage, due to the good guy with the gun providing cover. They actually hindered his ability to have a much lower risk shot, had he done so.
I suspect the news media will most likely say he also put the bystanders at risk, rather than crediting him for ending the event.
Originally posted by gearhounds: Someone needed to confront his frontal lobe with a 124 grain pill.
No one wants to volunteer to throw their life away and I can't say I blame them.
I hate the term "hot take", but.. just watching his body movements, I'd vote he's just some idiot mook, or a nutter/homeless type.
I don’t think stopping this guy from continuing to stab people is going to result in someone’s life being ruined short of having to live with taking a life. There’s enough witnesses and possibly footage we’ll never see to fully and completely exonerate a lawful use of force.
“Remember to get vaccinated or a vaccinated person might get sick from a virus they got vaccinated against because you’re not vaccinated.” - author unknown
July 27, 2025, 12:28 PM
YooperSigs
My old PD plinked a dude inside Wal-Mart. That episode showed that all WMs have excellent camera coverage. I would say that 98% of this incident is on good quality video.
End of Earth: 2 Miles Upper Peninsula: 4 Miles
July 27, 2025, 01:05 PM
trapper189
quote:
Originally posted by V-Tail:
quote:
Originally posted by dsiets:
That's pretty long hair for someone working the streets in uniform. Unless he's a deputy in some other capacity.
Undercover? Vice? Narcotics?
A Marine Corp veteran according to CNN:
“After nearly a dozen people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, Saturday afternoon, the quick actions of a couple of Marines and other bystanders helped stop the attacker from causing further harm.“
Originally posted by YooperSigs: My old PD plinked a dude inside Wal-Mart. That episode showed that all WMs have excellent camera coverage.
Yes they do. I always appreciated this when dealing with stuff involving Walmart. As opposed to various other businesses whose approach to camera systems was "go with whatever's cheapest".
The suspect is from Afton, MI which is on M68 between Indian River and Onaway. It’s a spot on a hill where the speed limit drops from 65mph to 60mph. There’s a gas station and a couple of other buildings. We drive through there to get to our home in MI if we take I75 all the way up. Kinda weird he was at the WalMart in Traverse City as the ones in Gaylord and Cheboygan are quite a bit closer.
The knife he used in the picture in the linked article appears to be a Buck 110. He claims to be a born again Christian.
July 27, 2025, 04:08 PM
parabellum
quote:
Originally posted by trapper189: The knife he used in the picture in the linked article appears to be a Buck 110. He claims to be a born again Christian.
Affirmative on the blade, negative on the Jesus.
July 27, 2025, 04:17 PM
cas
quote:
Originally posted by gearhounds:
I don’t think stopping this guy from continuing to stab people is going to result in someone’s life being ruined short of having to live with taking a life. There’s enough witnesses and possibly footage we’ll never see to fully and completely exonerate a lawful use of force.
And by not shooting him, they didn't have to deal with anything.
I have ZERO exception of "the right thing" happening where I live, no matter how right the shooting may be. Sadly.