Eleven individuals were stabbed, and a lot of other people were hurt badly, as they went to a Walmart in northern Michigan on a routine Sunday. Derrick Perry made things a lot better. Officials say it was one of the most violent incidents to happen in the area in a long time.
People who saw what happened reported that things started to go awry at about 2:15 p.m., when the store was full of weekend shoppers. The single suspect, whose name is currently unknown while the inquiry is going on, is claimed to have began hitting victims without warning. He rushed fast and in a peculiar fashion, swinging a knife at everybody who got in his way. People who were driving shopping trolleys and workers who were putting things on shelves were among those who were hurt. Some people were attacked at the electronics department, while others were targeted near the food aisle. Later, video from the surveillance camera showed that the suspect was acting in weird and unreasonable ways.
Panic set in immediately away. Customers raced in every direction, leaving their carts behind and hiding behind displays while they screamed. Some people contacted 911, and others escorted the kids to the back rooms. “Pure chaos—like a stampede,” claimed one customer. But one man stood firm even while everyone else was scared and confused.
Derrick Perry, 42, is a father of three and a local HVAC mechanic. He was out shopping for school supplies with his teenage daughter when the incident happened. Perry carried his rifle with him, which he says he hopes he never has to use. Perry has permission to carry a gun that is hidden. But Perry made a snap decision that day that probably saved lives.
Witnesses reported that Perry quickly took his daughter to safety behind a checkout counter before going closer to the perpetrator. He didn’t take out his gun right away. Instead, he maintained his hand on it and slowly walked toward the suspect, telling him to halt. Perry calmly and clearly requested the attacker to drop the knife as he turned to face someone else. Get down on the ground. I don’t want to kill you.
The suspect curiously agreed to it. The attacker dropped the weapon and lay down on the ground, maybe because Perry was so commanding or because they were astonished to see him. Perry kept him at gunpoint for more than four minutes before the police broke down the door and took him into custody.
There were no gunshots. Perry stepped in, and no one else got wounded.
Many witnesses and police officers applauded Perry for being calm, being aware of his surroundings, and being brave when things got tough. “This man’s actions were nothing short of heroic,” Sheriff Colleen Reyes stated at a press conference that night. “By staying calm, taking charge, and keeping others safe, he probably saved more lives.”
Within minutes, emergency professionals were on the scene, tending to the injured and sending the sickest victims to Munson Medical Center and other nearby hospitals. Four of the eleven patients were in critical condition as of Monday morning. The other seven were treated and subsequently released. Officials have put up a crisis counseling center for personnel and witnesses who are experiencing trouble.
A psychiatrist is looking at and holding the attacker, a 33-year-old guy who has a history of mental health problems. Authorities haven’t revealed why the event happened, but they have ruled out organized crime or terrorism as plausible motives. Authorities believe that the suspects will be charged with a number of counts of attempted murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
Derrick Perry has been famous since then, even though he is a very modest person. He remarked outside his residence, “I just did what I had to do.” I didn’t want to be a hero. I just wanted to make sure that everyone else was safe. He helps out at church and coaches kids’ soccer on the weekends. People who live near him claim he is quiet and cares about the area.
The event has already gotten people all around the country talking about self-defense laws, concealed carry permits, and what it means to own a gun as a citizen. Supporters have used Perry’s clear, disciplined, and effective actions as an example of how to use a pistol safely without being careless. Some people want to talk more about how to be ready for concerns like public safety, mental health care, and stopping violence.
No matter what the legal and political arguments are, one thing is for sure: Derrick Perry restored peace on a day when chaos could have ruled. He did something while lives were at stake, yet he did it with composure and bravery instead of violence. By doing this, he may have stopped a terrible tragedy from turning into a full-blown massacre.
The town is still shocked, but they are all working together as investigations continue and victims start the long process of healing. People from all throughout the state are demonstrating their support for the victims, the first responders, and the man who put himself in danger to protect the innocent without firing a shot.
There are interviews with people who observed what happened and security footage below.