Crime
Witness Says Friend’s Son and Another Shopper Helped Subdue Suspect in Walmart Stabbing Incident in Traverse City
TRAVERSE CITY, MI — A major law enforcement and emergency response was launched Saturday evening following a mass stabbing at the Walmart Supercenter in Traverse City.
The incident occurred just before 5:00 p.m., prompting a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) declaration as multiple victims were reported.
According to local officials and eyewitness accounts, at least eleven individuals were stabbed during the attack, with several suffering critical injuries.
Tourniquets were reportedly applied at the scene to control severe bleeding, and CPR was performed on at least one victim in cardiac arrest.
The total number of victims remains unconfirmed as the investigation continues.
Witnesses described a chaotic and horrifying scene inside the store, with panicked customers and employees running in all directions after a man armed with a knife began attacking shoppers at random in various departments.
Victims were reported across multiple sections of the store, including the produce and grocery areas.
Grand Traverse 911 issued a public alert asking residents to avoid the area near Walmart and Crossing Circle, emphasizing that “there is no danger to the public at this time” as the suspect had been taken into custody shortly after the attack.
Eyewitness statements offer further insight into the events. Kathryn Ann Clark told Channel2 Now that her friend’s son and another shopper helped subdue the suspect before police arrived.
Walmart employees confirmed that no shots were fired during the incident. Tasha Nash, who works at the store, stated, “Me and my sister work there. The whole store started screaming and running. There was a guy with a knife—he stabbed six people. I saw someone stabbed in the eye.”
Amber Paull reported seeing a man she described as “a foreign guy” randomly attack people in the produce section. “An African American man pulled a hero move and drew his pistol to try and stop him,” she said. “But then people screamed, and employees shouted for everyone to run, and the suspect slipped away into the crowd.”
Suspect is a Michigan resident, police confirmed.
Among the injured were an elderly woman and a child, according to initial accounts.
Law enforcement agencies have not yet released the suspect’s identity or disclosed a potential motive.
The investigation remains active, and officials are working to confirm details regarding the number of victims and the suspect’s background.
Authorities continue to urge the public to avoid the area as the scene is processed.
Updates will be provided as more verified information becomes available.
ANGOON, Alaska — Roger Williams Jr., 35, was found dead Wednesday after he went missing during a cockle fishing trip near Angoon, Alaska, authorities said. Search teams found his body along the shore near Danger Reef Point after the U.S. Coast Guard discovered his empty boat the previous evening.
Alaska State Troopers said Angoon Search and Rescue found Williams shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday. Officials are transporting his remains to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. His family has also been notified.
Williams was last seen around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. He reportedly left the Angoon boat harbor in a red-and-silver, 16-foot Lund boat to go cockle fishing.
Cockle fishing involves collecting shellfish from coastal areas. Williams did not return as expected, and authorities later found his boat without anyone aboard.
Officials have not shared further details about his final movements or what happened during the trip.
At around 8 p.m. Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard found an empty 16-foot Lund skiff near the shoreline between Killisnoo Island and Angoon.
The discovery led to a search for Williams. Authorities looked for him after finding the boat with no one aboard.
Officials have not explained how the boat ended up near the shore or confirmed what caused Williams to disappear.
The U.S. Coast Guard joined local search-and-rescue teams and crews from Wrangell to look for Williams.
The teams continued their search after finding the empty boat on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, Angoon Search and Rescue found Williams’ body near Danger Reef Point shortly before 1 p.m.
Authorities have not released details about the conditions during the search or the circumstances surrounding the discovery.
Alaska State Troopers said officials are transporting Williams’ remains to the State Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities have notified his next of kin.
Officials have not announced a cause of death. The medical examiner’s findings may provide more information about the circumstances of the incident.
The case remains under review as authorities work to determine what happened during Williams’ fishing trip.