Veteran praised for stopping Walmart stabber

Officials formally filed a dozen charges against the suspect accused of stabbing 11 people in a Traverse City, Mich., Walmart on Saturday afternoon. Over half of the 11 victims were age 55 or older, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said on Sunday. Officials planned to charge suspect Bradford Gille with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with the intent to murder, Shea said. The suspect had previous assault incidents and drug violations, he noted.

A group of civilians, including one with a pistol, confronted Gille in the parking lot to stop him from harming more people and leaving the scene, Shea’s office said. The armed bystander was later identified as retired U.S. Marine Derrick Perry. The National Association for Gun Rights praised Perry’s courage and readiness to take life-saving action. This good guy deserves recognition, the group wrote Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday, Shea thanked and commended all citizens who stepped in to stop the suspect and suggested they be afforded privacy for now. What those people did was amazing, and they deserve some space and an “attaboy” from the public, he added.

How are the victims doing? Only one victim is in serious condition, Munson Healthcare shared in a Monday morning update on the victims. Seven patients are listed in fair to good condition, two have been treated and transferred, and one has been released, the hospital said. The hospital previously described all victims as either in serious or critical condition in a Saturday night statement.