POLICE have revealed the identity of the suspect in the knife attack at a Walmart store in Michigan.
The random slashing spree began on Saturday afternoon in Traverse City, leaving 11 people injured.
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On Sunday cops identified 42-year-old Bradford James Gille from Afton as the suspected attacker.
They added that they will be seeking to file terrorism charges against him as well as 11 counts of assault with intent to murder.
Gille allegedly arrived at the store and started randomly slashing and stabbing at shoppers using a pocket knife.
It was the life-saving and heroic actions of bystanders that helped quickly get him into police custody, authorities said.
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“I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough,” Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said.
“When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute.
“That is remarkable. When you look at it in that mitigated Lord knows how many additional victims.”
Further information has been released about those injured in the attack who are being treated at the Munson Medical Center.
Shea said that they were a mix of men and women ranging from the ages of 21 and 84.
One of those injured was a store employee, Shea confirmed.
The attack began near the checkout counter with people being targeted at random – victims were “not predetermined” Shea said.
From the hospital, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tom Schermerhorn told reporters that the majority of victims are in a fair condition.
One was treated and has already been released and two are in a serious condition, he said.
“Over the past 12 hours, we’ve seen encouraging signs of recovery among our patients,” the hospital said in an update.
‘SLASHED AT THROATS’
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses have described how the horror unfolded.
Delivery driver Steven Carter was loading his truck with customer groceries in the parking lot when he saw a man slash at a woman’s throat with a knife.
“At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack,” he said.
“And then it was dear, disbelief, shock.”
He called the response of bystanders “amazing” saying that the attacker was soon surrounded by a group of heroic shoppers.
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Around six people including one armed with a gun confronted the man telling him to “drop the knife,” Carter recalled.
He told them “I don’t care, I don’t care,” while backing away from the group until he was tackled to the ground.
“It was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived,” Carter said.
Tiffany DeFell, 36, who was also in the parking lot at the time of the attack said, “It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out.”
“This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”
No motive for the attack has been given as the investigation continues.
The authorities have told the public they believe the suspect acted alone and there is no further danger.
Meanwhile, Walmart has given no update on when the store will reopen but has called such violence “unacceptable”.
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“Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“We’ll continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation.”
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https://www.the-sun.com/news/14832017/cops-identify-michigan-walmart-knife-attack-suspect/