TRAVERSE CITY, MI — A chaotic and tragic scene unfolded Saturday afternoon at the Walmart Supercenter on Crossing Circle in Traverse City, Michigan, when a knife-wielding man carried out a mass stabbing that left 11 victims hospitalized, several critically injured.

The suspect, a 42-year-old Michigan man, is in custody following a swift response by both law enforcement and brave civilians — including an armed citizen who confronted the attacker inside the store.

The stabbing occurred just before 5:00 p.m., prompting a major emergency response.

Dozens of police officers, emergency medical teams, and fire personnel descended on the store. The suspect was quickly apprehended at the scene.

According to Munson Healthcare, 11 individuals are being treated for stab wounds, with six victims in critical condition and five others in serious condition.

Victims were located throughout multiple departments inside the store, some reportedly suffering severe wounds including injuries to the face and chest.

One person was said to have gone into cardiac arrest during the incident.

Eyewitness accounts paint a terrifying picture of the attack:

“It was a guy with a knife — people were screaming and running in all directions,” said Tasha Nash, a Walmart employee. “I saw someone stabbed in the eye.”

Amber Paull, another shopper, described the assailant as a foreign man who “just lost it” and began randomly attacking people in the produce and grocery section. “An African American man pulled a hero move — he drew his pistol and tried to stop the attacker,” Paull said. “But then people started screaming, and the suspect managed to slip back into the crowd.”

Kathryn Ann Clark told Channel2 Now that her friend’s son and another shopper physically confronted the suspect and helped subdue him. “It was definitely a stabbing,” she confirmed. “There were no shots fired, just brave people stepping in.”

Multiple victims — including an elderly woman and a child — were reportedly among those injured, though their current conditions have not been officially confirmed.

Witnesses reported seeing blood trails across several store aisles and victims being treated on the floor while medics applied tourniquets.

In a public notice, Grand Traverse 911 urged the public to avoid the area and confirmed, “There is no danger to the public at this time.”

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities have not released the suspect’s name pending further investigation.

Traverse City, a northern Michigan city located approximately 125 miles from Grand Rapids, is now the scene of one of the most violent retail-related incidents in recent state history.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has reportedly been notified, and local law enforcement agencies are working to determine whether the attack was premeditated or random in nature.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has video footage is urged to contact Grand Traverse County authorities or Crime Stoppers as the investigation continues.