(In The US) Derrick Perry, a Traverse City Resident Hailed as Hero for Stopping Walmart Stabber with Firearm

 

Derrick Perry, a Traverse City resident, has garnered widespread admiration across the United States for his courageous actions in halting a violent stabbing spree at a local Walmart on July 26, 2025. While shopping with his family, Perry sprang into action when 42-year-old Bradford James Gille began randomly attacking customers with a folding knife, injuring 11 people, some critically.

 Drawing on his security training and military background as a former Marine, Perry confronted the assailant, using a store shelf as cover to disarm him and hold him at gunpoint with his legally owned firearm until police arrived.Eyewitnesses described Perry’s bravery, with one noting, “Everyone was running away, but Derrick ran toward the danger.” Security footage captured his quick response, showing him restraining Gille alongside other bystanders, including another Marine veteran, Matt Kolakowski, who used a shopping cart to knock the attacker down. 

Traverse City Police Chief Lauren Gilbert and Sheriff Michael Shea praised Perry’s actions, stating they likely prevented further injuries. The community has rallied behind Perry, with city officials planning to honor him with a Community Hero Award. Social media posts on X celebrate him as a “true hero,” with his family expressing pride in his selfless act. As the 11 victims recover at Munson Medical Center, Perry’s intervention remains a powerful testament to courage in crisis.

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