Veteran Hero Stops Walmart Stabbing With Shopping Cart \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A disabled veteran used a shopping cart to stop a knife-wielding man who stabbed 11 people at a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan. The suspect, Bradford Gille, has a history of mental illness and was charged with terrorism and attempted murder. Quick-thinking shoppers are being hailed as heroes as video of the confrontation spreads online.
Quick Looks
- A disabled veteran, Matthew Kolakowski, used a shopping cart to confront the attacker.
- Bradford Gille, 42, stabbed 11 people using a 3.5-inch knife.
- Victims ranged in age from 29 to 84; all are expected to survive.
- Gille has a long record of mental health issues and past arrests.
- A warrant had been issued for Gille’s protective custody the day before the attack.
- Kolakowski was joined by other shoppers; one had a gun and demanded Gille drop the knife.
- Gille’s mother previously said he refused to take his medication.
- Authorities are praising the bystanders for preventing further carnage.
- The attack unfolded rapidly, with chaotic scenes in the parking lot.
- Viral video captured Kolakowski’s brave actions and spread across social media.
Deep Look
A Weekend Shopping Trip Turned Trauma
On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in Traverse City, Michigan, Matthew Kolakowski took his daughter to Walmart for fishing gear and snacks. Moments later, his life — and the lives of eleven others — would change forever. Kolakowski heard an employee shout, “He’s got a knife!” followed by screams and chaos.
A man, later identified as Bradford Gille, rushed toward the checkout area wielding a 3½‑inch knife. Instead of fleeing with his daughter, Kolakowski called out, “Stay here,” and sprinted toward the attacker, driven by instinct and resolve.
From Unarmed to Restraint: How One Cart Made the Difference
Kolakowski watched helplessly as Gille stabbed an older woman outside the store. Though unarmed himself, Kolakowski seized a shopping cart to knock Gille off balance. Within seconds, another shopper joined in with a second cart, and a third man confronted the assailant with a firearm, ordering him to drop the knife. The combined actions brought Gille down and allowed Kolakowski to restrain him until law enforcement arrived.
In the end, 11 people were injured, including a store employee, aged between 29 and 84. Remarkably, all victims are expected to survive.
Profiles at the Scene: Hero and Aggressor
Matthew Kolakowski, 39, is a disabled Iraq War veteran who says he acted without hesitation. “I was scared, sure, but I just kept going,” he said from his Kent City home. Observers and his own family described his action as nothing less than heroic.
Bradford Gille, 42, hailed from nearby Petoskey and carried with him a troubling history of mental illness. Arrest records show repeated encounters for disorderly conduct, assault, domestic violence, and disturbing cemetery vandalism. In 2017, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Days before the attack, police had legally ordered his detention for being a danger to himself or others—but could not locate him.
Fast Justice and Legal Charges
Gille, charged with terrorism and 11 counts of attempted murder, appeared agitated at his arraignment and was described as possibly homeless. A not‑guilty plea was entered on his behalf; bond was set at $100,000.
Mental Health System Failures
This incident has reopened painful questions about the handling of those with serious psychiatric conditions. Gille’s mother once said her son resisted medication, often believing he didn’t need it. Law enforcement acknowledged police had tried to place him under protective custody but failed to physically locate him—a breakdown that proved catastrophic.
The Bystanders Who Became Heroes
Chris O’Brien, Kolakowski’s brother-in-law, filmed the incident. He called it a surreal moment — one where ordinary people stepped up under unimaginable pressure. “Matt was determined to stop it right then and there,” he said. “He sure as hell did that.”
Authorities, from the Grand Traverse County Sheriff on down, echoed this sentiment, praising the calm and bravery under dire conditions. Social media quickly lionized Kolakowski and others for likely preventing further tragedy.
Broader Concerns: Public Safety and Prevention
For the community, questions quickly followed: How was someone with a known history at large? Why did the courthouse-ordered protective custody fail? Was there any intervention possibility from mental health services earlier? These concerns fuel growing conversations in Traverse City and beyond about civil commitment laws, psychiatric care access, and crisis intervention protocols.
Aftermath: Trauma, Healing, and Community
While Kolakowski is hailed as a hero, he carries visible and invisible scars of trauma. Local veteran groups are offering counseling, and Walmart has offered assistance to the injured and their families. In the community, there are plans to honor the bystanders who acted.
Gille remains hospitalized under guard. His mental state and criminal culpability are subjects of ongoing concern. What follows — assessments, hearings, and legal challenges — will test the system’s capacity to balance justice and public safety with mental health compassion.
A Story of Courage Amid Chaos
This incident was not a cinematic chase, nor a scripted rescue. It was raw, visceral, and terrifying — and yet, it was resolved not by law enforcement guns, but by the common tools and uncommon courage of everyday citizens. Kolakowski’s reaction — charging headlong, unarmed, into danger — became a line between slaughter and survival for strangers.
In the end, it wasn’t the blade that defined the day — it was the bravery, composure, and selfless action of those who chose to stand. And in that fleeting moment, a disabled veteran with a shopping cart redefined heroism for a small town — and reminded us all what it means to act when action matters most.
Veteran Hero Stops Veteran Hero Stops
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