Authorities in Michigan say several people were stabbed at a Walmart in Traverse City on Saturday, and the suspect is in custody.
Officials at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City said they were treating 11 victims from the incident as of Saturday evening. The hospital did not provide an update on their conditions.
The Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, where authorities reported multiple people stabbed.
Courtesy Jerome Hartl
The suspect is in custody, authorities said.
At a news conference Saturday evening, Grand Traverse Sheriff Michael Shea said the suspect was armed with a folding knife and that it appeared the victims were randomly chosen. “It appears they were random acts,” he said. “It appears the victims were not pre-determined.”
He said the incident began unfolding near the checkout area.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement on X that she was monitoring the situation.
The Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, where authorities reported multiple people stabbed.
Courtesy Jerome Hartl
“I’m in touch with law enforcement about the horrible news out of Traverse City. Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence,” she said.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a statement on social media that FBI personnel were responding to the scene, “to provide any necessary support to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office in their investigation of the attacks at the Walmart.”
State police asked people to avoid the area as the investigation continues.
In a statement, a Walmart spokesperson said: “Violence like this is unacceptable. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and we’re thankful for the swift action of first responders. We’ll continue working closely with law enforcement during their investigation.”
Traverse City, a city of about 16,000 people, is in northern Michigan, about 150 miles north of Grand Rapids.
