Chaos erupted Saturday evening inside a Walmart store in Traverse City when a man armed with a folding knife injured 11 people in what authorities are calling a random attack.
The violent incident unfolded near the store’s checkout lanes, according to Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea. The 42-year-old suspect, a Michigan resident, was quickly taken into custody without sustaining any injuries. Officials say the attack appears to have no specific target and was carried out at random.
Courageous shoppers inside the store stepped up, assisting law enforcement by subduing the attacker and helping provide aid to the wounded before emergency responders arrived.
“This was a coordinated response from the beginning… not just from first responders, but from citizens who bravely stepped in,” Sheriff Shea said during a press briefing.
Munson Healthcare, the primary medical provider in Northern Michigan, confirmed in a Facebook update that all 11 victims were receiving treatment at their Traverse City medical center. As of Sunday morning, four individuals remain in serious condition while seven others are listed as fair.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack as the community rallies around those affected.
