Hero bystanders stopped Walmart stabber: Ex-marine Derrick Perry held attacker at gunpoint; watch
A stabbing attack at a Walmart store in Traverse City, Michigan, left 11 people injured on Sunday. But what could have been far worse was stopped by a group of bystanders, and one man in particular is being praised across social media, Derrick Perry.
Video from the scene, later verified by CNN, shows the suspect being cornered in the parking lot by a group of civilians. One man stands out, pointing a gun directly at the suspect, keeping him frozen in place until police arrived. That man is Perry.
While authorities haven't officially named him, Perry's family and locals have identified him in Facebook posts, calling him a 'true hero.' One post read, 'This is Derrick Perry! He is the man who took his gun out and risked his life to save many lives.'
A woman added in the comments, 'So proud to be his daughter-in-law. He protected so many.'
— GrahamAllen_1 (@GrahamAllen_1)
The attacker, identified by police as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille, allegedly began stabbing people near the checkout area. He was reportedly trying to flee when two former Marines, Matt Kolakowski and Perry — intervened.
Kolakowski told CNN that he had no weapon but charged at the attacker with a shopping cart, hitting him hard enough to knock him down. Perry, a veteran himself, then drew his licensed weapon and held the man at gunpoint until others tackled him and officers arrived.
Eleven victims were taken to Munson Medical Center. Three underwent surgery. Their names and conditions have not been made public.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Hero Ex-Marine Stops Walmart Stabber, Holds Attacker At Gunpoint Until Police Arrive
Last Updated: The attacker, identified as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille, reportedly launched his rampage near the checkout counters before attempting to flee. A brutal stabbing at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, left 11 people injured on Sunday, but a much larger tragedy was averted thanks to the courage of two bystanders. Leading the charge was former Marine Derrick Perry, now hailed as a hero across social media. Verified video shows the suspect cornered in the store's parking lot, motionless as Perry kept him pinned at gunpoint until police moved in. While authorities have yet to officially confirm his identity, locals and family members have proudly named Perry online, praising his bravery. One post read, 'This is Derrick Perry! He risked his life to save many." His daughter-in-law added, 'So proud. He protected so many." The attacker, identified as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille, reportedly launched his rampage near the checkout counters before attempting to flee. That's when two veterans — Perry and fellow former Marine Matt Kolakowski — intervened. Kolakowski, unarmed, rammed the assailant with a shopping cart, knocking him down. Perry then drew his licensed firearm, holding the suspect at bay until other civilians helped subdue him and officers took over. All 11 victims were rushed to Munson Medical Centre, where three required surgery. view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 07:21 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Former Marine Arrested After 11 Stabbed at Michigan Walmart Hero Bystanders Intervene
After nearly a dozen people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, Saturday afternoon, the quick actions of a couple of Marines and other bystanders helped stop the attacker from causing further of the injured were in serious condition Sunday afternoon, after what police described as a 'random' act by a lone attacker. One victim was treated and released, Dr. Thomas Schermerhorn, the chief medical officer at Munson Medical Center, said at a Sunday afternoon news conference. All victims are expected to survive, he added. They range in age from 29 to 84.'It appears that these were all random acts,' Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea said earlier Sunday. 'The victims were not predetermined,' and there's no indication of additional suspects, the sheriff suspect, identified as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille of Afton, Michigan, faces charges of one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder, Shea said Sunday afternoon. He is set to be arraigned early this week and faces life in prison, officials 4:10 p.m., Gille entered the Walmart in Garfield Township and stayed inside until the incident unfolded at 4:45 p.m., the sheriff said. Gille was armed with a 'folding knife' and stabbed 11 people in the store's checkout area, according to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff's Office. One of the victims is a Walmart employee.A sheriff's deputy arrived at the scene 'within minutes' and took the suspect into custody, the sheriff said. Citizens in Walmart also assisted in the apprehension of the suspect and treatment of victims, he said, without providing details. The suspect was not injured. Mobile App -
Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Did Bradford Gille, Traverse City Walmart stabbing suspect, tweet about Hitler and Israel-Palestine in 2023?
Bradford James Gille was identified as the suspect who injured at least 11 people at the Traverse City, Michigan Walmart on Saturday. The Afton local, 42, is expected to face terrorism and multiple assault charges, authorities said Sunday. Now, his alleged social media posts about Hitler and the Israel-Palestine conflict have surfaced on X. Bradford Gille was identified as the Michigan Walmart stabbing suspect(X) We found an X account named Bradford James Gille (@BradfordGille) with tweets about Palestine and Hitler dating back to 2022-2023. However, at this time, Hindustan Times cannot verify if the account is linked to the Michigan stabbing suspect. Read More: Traverse City Walmart stabbing suspect confronted by shoppers; dramatic video of takedown emerges 'If Israel became a country by killing Palestinians and stealing their land when did that happen because hasn't that land always been God's dwelling place?' the latest tweet on the account reads. The user posted about Hitler in 2022. Along with the German dictator's photo, they wrote: 'There were 10 dreams and 1 possible flashback I had about me being in WW2. This photograph shows Hitler greeting one of his soldiers who looks like me from what I can still tell being in the shade and if he is I pray that I was one of the soldiers who helped the Jews escape.' The 42-year-old was identified during a Grand Traverse County press conference on Sunday. Officials revealed that Gille was detained by several shoppers at the Walmart's parking lot before officers arrested him. Sheriff Michael Shea said a motive behind the attack remains unclear. Gille had 'prior assaultive incidents as well as controlled substance violations'. Read More: Walmart stabbing suspect slashed shopper 'in the eye,' witnesses recount horrifying scene in Michigan 'I cannot commend everyone that was involved enough. When you stop and look from the time of call to the time of actual custody, the individual was detained within one minute,' Shea said at a press conference. 'That is remarkable. When you look at it in that mitigated Lord knows how many additional victims.' Grand Traverse County Prosecutor Noelle Moeggenberg told reporters that the terrorism charge will be brought. 'It's something that is done not to individual people, not to those individual victims — obviously they are most affected — but it is we believe in some and some ways done to affect the entire community, to put fear in the entire community and to change how maybe we operate on a daily basis,' Moeggenberg said. "So that is why we are looking at that terrorism charge." Shea said the 11 victims were both men and women and they ranged in age from 29 to 84 and included one Walmart employee. All the victims are expected to survive. (With AP inputs)
