Chaos at Traverse City Walmart: 11 Injured in Random Stabbing Spree

Authorities in Traverse City are still working to determine what led a 42-year-old man to launch a brutal and seemingly random stabbing spree inside a local Walmart on Friday evening, an attack that left 11 people injured and sent panicked shoppers running for safety.

The rampage began around 5 p.m. on July 26—a peak shopping hour for the sprawling store—when the suspect, armed with a folding knife, began attacking people near the checkout lanes. One witness described the horror of watching the man slash a woman’s throat in front of stunned customers.

“It was total chaos,” said Steven Carter, a Walmart delivery driver who witnessed the aftermath from the parking lot. “At first, it was disbelief. I thought maybe it was like a terror attack. And then it was fear, disbelief, shock. It all happened fast.”

According to Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea, bystanders inside and outside the store acted quickly to stop the assailant. Several shoppers confronted the man outside in the parking lot, where one bystander reportedly drew a firearm and, along with others, ordered the suspect to drop his weapon.

Carter said the attacker showed no signs of surrender. “They kept yelling at him, ‘drop the knife,’ and he just said, ‘I don’t care, I don’t care.’” Moments later, someone tackled him to the ground and held him until law enforcement arrived.

Sheriff Shea confirmed that the suspect was taken into custody within minutes of the initial attack. While his identity has not yet been released, authorities have not suggested any political or ideological motive behind the incident.

“Based on the information that we have at this time, they were random acts,” Shea said during a Saturday morning press briefing.

In the immediate aftermath, Munson Healthcare reported that six victims were in critical condition and five others were listed as serious. By Saturday afternoon, the hospital system posted an update on social media noting “encouraging signs of recovery,” with seven victims now in fair condition and four still listed as serious.

The stabbing has rocked the Traverse City community, a popular tourist destination on the edge of Lake Michigan known more for cherry orchards and summer festivals than violent crime. Law enforcement officials say the investigation is ongoing, and are reviewing store surveillance footage and interviewing dozens of witnesses.

Walmart released a brief statement expressing sympathy for the victims and gratitude for the quick action of customers and law enforcement. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this senseless act,” the company said.

As of Sunday morning, no charges had been formally announced, but authorities expect to release more information in the coming days.

What remains unclear is what drove the suspect to carry out such a sudden and violent attack—one that could have turned even more deadly were it not for the swift response of ordinary citizens.

“This could have been so much worse,” Carter said. “But people stepped up. They didn’t hesitate.”