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The former Marine who helped stop a stabbing spree at a Michigan Walmart is speaking out, and his account is a powerful reminder of how armed citizens and courageous bystanders can make the difference between chaos and tragedy.
Derrick Perry, a Marine veteran and hospital employee, was checking out at Walmart on Saturday in Traverse City, MI when panic erupted.
“A lady was like screaming for her son and all the employees and patrons were clamoring, trying to run in different directions,” Perry told ABC News.
Authorities say 42-year-old Bradford James Gilly stabbed multiple people inside the store, sending 11 to the hospital, before fleeing into the parking lot. That’s when Perry and other shoppers decided to act.
“I didn’t think of anything other than trying to get him away from people and get him isolated and get him to put the knife down,” Perry said.
Facing Down a Wild-Eyed Attacker
Witnesses describe the terrifying scene as Gilly brandished a folding knife, eyes “wild,” and muttering that “they told me to do it.” Perry calmly drew his legally carried firearm—open carry is legal in Michigan—and confronted the suspect.
“Unfortunately, there was kind of like a mob mentality and some very disturbing things were being said on how to deal with the situation,” Perry recalled. “I had to block all of that out and focus on him… I just wanted everyone to be safe.”
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Perry said he focused on de-escalation.
“I took time to actually look and listen and try to understand his mind state,” he said. “I am in a position to do something very brash, but it’s ultimately my decision to not do it as well. Just de-escalate the situation, try to get him to surrender on his own accord.”
Gilly eventually complied and was taken into custody. On Monday, he was charged with terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder.
He pleaded not guilty and even tried to refuse participating in his arraignment, asking, “Do I have to do this? I don’t want to,” according to ABC News.
A “Duty to Protect”
Perry says he doesn’t feel like a hero, despite law enforcement and the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) praising his actions.
“The only thing that separated me from the other gentlemen that had stepped in as well was what else I was carrying in my hands,” Perry said. “I think I would have ran out there or walked out there and helped either way. It was just a moment of, I’ve got a duty to protect.”
Police and Perry credit other unarmed bystanders for their bravery, noting that without their intervention, the attack could have been far deadlier.
For 2A supporters, this is yet another case where a law-abiding armed citizen, backed by the courage of ordinary people, helped end a rampage before it spiraled into mass tragedy.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
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Ah, the same Pritzger that pushed Chicago to close all public shooting ranges within Cook County while owning shooting training facilities *outside* Cook County, most notoriously on I-94 across the State Line in Wisconsin. Yup!
CNN BREAKING NEWS…
A mostly-peaceful Walmart patron was assaulted by a mob of eleven people, who accidentally impaled themselves on the butter knife he was trying to purchase.
This story needs to be told and thank you for telling it. The Lame Stream Media won’t mention it and it will be buried faster than you can say Epstein.
Good man with gun stops bad man with knife. Two Marines TCOB. America!
Outstanding! Once a Marine, always a Marine. FWIW, there are no former Marines.
I commend him for his restraint; he could easily have justified shooting the perpetrator.
I saw this story on multiple news feeds after it happened and not one mentioned that a good guy with a gun stopped it. In fact, one of the news sources said the bad guy stabbed 11 people and was on the run but the police had a description of him which is an outright lie. I just scanned a few of the main news channels and they all say things like “he was detained by bystanders” as if a maniac who just stabbed 11 people would stop because some bystanders asked him to. It wasn’t until I saw Colion Noir’s YT video that first heard that an “armed citizen” stopped him rather than random bystanders with pleas of “please stop!”.
If you’ve ever wondered if the mainstream media really was heavily biased towards the left, here’s another in a long line of examples proving they are.
Well done Mr. Derrick Perry, well done sir.
Brushed under the rug by main stream media! They don’t like to use the word. They only like to say the word “gun” if it’s followed by the word “control”
Semper Fi!
God Bless This Man!
he was lucky he didn’t shoot since it was being recorded and the vid would have been used to convict him!!!