Eleven people were stabbed Saturday in a Walmart store near Traverse City, and a 42-year-old male suspect is in custody, according to authorities.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael D. Shea said 11 people were injured in the stabbing, which initially started near the store’s checkout area. Six of the victims were male, five were female, Shea said.

Megan Brown, chief communications officer for Munson Healthcare, said that Munson Medical Center in Traverse City is treating 11 stabbing victims, and five are currently in serious condition and six are in critical condition. Brown was not able to provide the ages of the stabbing victims Saturday night.

“Our hearts go out to the victims and their families,” Brown said. “We also commend our staff, nurses, doctors, everyone who helped in this situation.” 

The sheriff was not able to provide age ranges of the victims, but said three of the victims required surgery.

A 911 call came into Grand Traverse County’s emergency dispatch at 4:43 p.m., according to the sheriff.

There was “citizen involvement” in the incident in helping stop the suspect’s “random” stabbings, Shea said.

The suspect, a 42-year-old Michigan man, appeared to use a standard folding knife in the stabbings, Shea said.

“And as I said, there was citizen involvement in this, and as we learn more about that, we’ll talk more about that,” Shea said at a press conference Saturday evening at the Traverse City Police Department. “But it’s very tragic, and no one is immune to it, unfortunately.”

A sheriff’s deputy responded to the store and took the suspect into custody, Shea said.

State police were investigating after an individual entered the Walmart store and stabbed multiple individuals, said Lt. Michelle Robinson, the public information officer for the Michigan State Police’s sixth district.

The suspect has not been identified, but Shea confirmed he was a Michigan resident. He said he would rather not comment on the specific area the suspect is from.

Munson Healthcare said 11 victims were being treated at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.

“As a result, our Emergency Department is currently experiencing a higher-than-usual volume of patients,” the northern Michigan hospital system said in a Facebook post.

The stabbing occurred at the lone Traverse City-area Walmart near the Grand Traverse Crossing mall in Garfield Township.

Robinson confirmed that an individual was taken into police custody, but was not able to provide the number of people who were stabbed. She said she was traveling to the scene to get more information, but wouldn’t arrive for another two hours.

Grand Traverse County 911 issued around 5 p.m. saying there was an “active incident” in the vicinity of the Walmart along Crossing Circle.

“Please avoid the area of Walmart or other businesses at Crossing Circle. First responders are on scene. There is no danger to the public at this time,” the statement said.

A Walmart corporate spokesperson, Joe Pennington, said by email that the company was “working with police and defer questions to them right now.”

Police are asking residents to avoid the area while they continue to investigate the stabbing. More details will be provided as they become available, according to the state police.

Shea said he is unsure when the Walmart Supercenter could reopen, but said the Michigan State Police Crime Lab team was headed to Grand Traverse County to assist with processing the crime scene.

Grand Traverse County authorities are in contact with Walmart management, and once the scene is cleared, they will be notified and will be able to reopen, Shea said.

Shea said this type of violence is “very uncommon for our area,” but he urged people to be vigilant.

“Be vigilant, know that no area is immune to this type of activity, unfortunately, and if you see something, please reach out, call 911,” he said.

“I’m very pleased with the response time, the actions, all entities worked incredibly fluent together and I commend all of them,” Shea added. “This was a joint effort, all the way through, as I mentioned, to the citizens, and, thankfully, no one else is injured. Eleven too many, but thank God it wasn’t more.”

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a social media post that bureau officials were responding to “provide any necessary support” to the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Saturday evening that she was in touch with law enforcement agencies in Grand Traverse County.

“Our thoughts are with the victims and the community reeling from this brutal act of violence,” Whitmer said on X. “I am grateful to the first responders for their swift response to apprehend the suspect.”

In its statement, Munson Healthcare also made a plea for the “public’s patience and understanding as we manage this increased demand” at the Traverse City hospital’s emergency room.

The hospital system added in a statement: “Munson Healthcare leadership wishes to thank our amazing staff, which responded commendably and admirably under these tragic circumstances. Every single department and team at Munson Medical Center, and throughout our healthcare system, stepped up to ensure not only that the victims of this tragedy were cared for, but that all our other patients continued to receive the care that they needed as well.