‘What They Did Was Amazing’: Sheriff Praises Heroic Armed Civilians Who Stopped MI Walmart Stabbing Suspect
Video shared online purporting to show citizens confronting suspect outside Michigan Walmart.
At a Sunday press conference in Michigan, Grand Traverse Sheriff Michael Shea confirmed to reporters that at least one civilian who confronted the suspect in the multiple stabbings at a local Walmart was armed with a handgun. He praised all the civilians who intervened as heroes, and asked they be granted their privacy.
“At the time of the deputy’s arrival, multiple citizens, including one who was armed with a pistol, were confronting the male suspect in the parking lot and preventing him from harming further people and leaving,” Shea said on Sunday. “The deputy took the suspect into custody without further incident.”
The incident at the Walmart on Saturday left 11 people wounded, some in serious condition, after the suspect identified by police as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille of Michigan allegedly stabbed 11 people before being confronted by civilians, who detained him until police arrived.
Although the sheriff would not confirm the alleged identity of the armed civilian that has been widely shared on social media — including in a post on X by Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — he did effectively confirm to reporters that the widespread video of that confrontation in the parking lot is genuine.
“I am fairly confident in saying that that is the suspect in the video,” Shea said when asked by a reporter about it.
A reporter asked specifically and by name about the armed citizen. The man being credited as the “good guy with a gun” who bravely saved lives appears to be identified fairly definitively online, with many on conservative social media praising his courage in exercising his Second Amendment right to self-defense and defense of others.
Shea did not confirm the man’s identity, and asked for the press to respect the privacy of the civilians who intervened, leaving it up to them individually to decide whether or not they wish to make a public statement or discuss the incident.
“Well, I’d rather not comment on that,” Shea said. “What I would ask is for all of those people that were involved – First of all, I commend them. It’s not very often that we have citizens that are willing to step up and take action.”
“And I ask that we grant them the privacy that they need right now,” he continued. “If they choose to make a public statement, they will. But I would ask that we all just give them a little space and say atta boy.”
“I mean, when you look at the collaboration that took place from the citizen involvement to all emergency services, to our transport teams, to Munson Medical Center, to the media, it is unbelievable,” the Sheriff said. “And I think that speaks volumes for the community that we live in. So I ask that you do. You grant them, I know there’s things out there, I know the video’s out there. Let’s just give them some space.”
“What they did was amazing,” he said, voicing the gratitude shared by many in the incident.
Suspect James Gille, who has prior criminal history including assault, is being charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder, authorities explained at the press conference.
A different video wrongly attributed to the incident also went viral on Saturday but was soon debunked and has since been flagged with community notes on X.
