Share this @internewscast.com

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) Chaos unfolded at a Walmart in Michigan after a man burst into the store during a calm shopping afternoon and stabbed 11 people at random, authorities say. The attack on Saturday left six victims in critical condition and a suspect in custody.

The 42-year-old suspect entered the store shortly before 5 p.m. and used a folding knife to stab the victims, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on social media. Their ages weren’t immediately known.

A sheriff’s deputy arrived within minutes and took the man into custody.

Steven Carter was loading his truck in the Walmart parking lot when he saw a man cut a woman’s throat with a knife.

About five minutes later, the man was surrounded by shoppers in the parking lot, including one who was holding a gun. The group of five or six people kept yelling to the man, “drop the knife,” he said, and the man responded: “I don’t care, I don’t care.” He kept backing away from the crowd before someone tackled and subdued him.

“At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack,” said Carter, who delivers customer orders from Walmart. “And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. And that was, it was just amazing. And it all happened fast. Like he was totally subdued on the ground by the time police arrived.”

Emergency vehicles and uniformed first responders gathered in the parking lot of the shopping center that houses several other retail stores. Authorities also were seen interviewing employees, still wearing blue uniform vests and name tags, nearby as the response gave way to an investigation.

Tiffany DeFell, 36, who lives in Honor, about 25 miles from Traverse City, said she was in the store’s parking lot when she saw chaos erupt around her.

“It was really scary. Me and my sister were just freaking out,” she said. “This is something you see out of the movies. It’s not what you expect to see where you’re living.”

Munson Healthcare said via social media that 11 people were being treated at the region’s largest hospital in northern Michigan. Spokesperson Megan Brown said all were stabbing victims. As of Sunday morning, Brown said, four of the victims were in serious condition, and seven were in fair condition.

“We’ve have seen encouraging signs of recovery among our patients,” Brown said.

Sheriff Michael Shea said the weapon involved appeared to be a folding-style knife. Shea said the suspect is believed to be a Michigan resident but declined to share further details. Michigan State Police had said earlier in the day that the suspect was in authorities’ custody.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said: “Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence.”

Walmart said in a statement that it would continue to work closely with law enforcement in the investigation.

“Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders,” the statement said.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to “provide any necessary support.”

Traverse City is a popular vacation spot on the coast of Lake Michigan. It is known for its cherry festival, wineries and lighthouses and is about 25 miles east of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Family Demands Justice After Mother Tragically Killed on State Road 46 While Walking with Baby

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities from the Florida Highway Patrol are diligently…

Revolutionizing the Race: AI Smart Glasses Empower Visually Impaired Runners at the London Marathon

LONDON – As she jogs past the iconic Buckingham Palace, Tilly Dowler…

Massive Invasion: Jakarta Launches Urgent Cleanup to Combat Destructive ‘Janitor Fish’ Crisis

JAKARTA – Jubilant cheers erupted across Indonesia’s bustling capital on Friday as…

Brave Protest: Wives Defy US Raid and Demand Justice for Husbands Detained in Venezuela

CARACAS – In the heart of Venezuela’s bustling capital, Mileidy Mendoza and…

Tennessee Bureau Probes Source of Controversial Sullivan County Political Mailers

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) has launched an inquiry into the…

China Resumes Panda Diplomacy: Giant Pandas Set to Return to Atlanta Zoo

BEIJING – The city of Atlanta is set to welcome giant pandas…

Greeneville Resident Arrested Linked to North Carolina Murder Investigation

Authorities in Madison County, North Carolina, have apprehended a Greeneville, Tennessee resident,…

Supreme Court Decision Prompts Mississippi to Reevaluate Judicial District Boundaries in Voting Rights Case

JACKSON, Miss. – Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has declared his intention to…