GARFIELD TOWNSHIP — The Grand Traverse County Sheriff says a man wielding a knife stabbed 11 people.

He said six of the victims where male, five were female, ages unknown.

All of them were alive when they were taken to Munson Medical center, three undergoing surgery.

Munson says five are in serious condition and six are critical.

Shortly before 4:45 Saturday afternoon, a call came into 9-1-1 that a man was stabbing people at the Traverse City Walmart.

Grand Traverse County Sheriff, Michael Shea, says the suspect stabbed 11 people, the incident starting near the checkout area of the store, “The suspect is a 42-year-old male. We believe he acted alone at this time. There’s no information indicating there were additional suspects. It appears that these were all random acts. The weapon appears to be a folding knife. At this time, we have six male victims and five female victims. Age is unknown at this time.

Not much is known about the suspect, except that he is from Michigan.

Shea did not have anything more specific.

It appears there were random acts that there was no, the victims were not predetermined.

We spoke with a man who says he was at the self-checkout when the incident began.

“I watched a man walk up to another man, a slender white guy, younger, big green backpack on, walked up to a man and just stuck him,” said eyewitness, Brad Mathis.

He said other customers tried to stop the suspect, “Headed for the door as he headed for the door. Everyone that came to try to stop him or tackle him, he started slashing and he called 9 or 10 people and it’s where they finally quit trying to subdue him because of the fact that he cut so many people.

Shea, however, tells us there was citizen involvement in taking the suspect down.

Shea said responders were on scene within three minutes of the call coming in. “I’m very pleased with the response time, the actions. All entities, worked incredibly fluent together. And I commend all of them.

These kinds of incidents are very rare in Northern Michigan, but they can happen anywhere and Shea has this message for the public.

“Be vigilant. Know that no area is immune to this type of activity. Unfortunately. And if you see something, please reach out. Call 911. And as I said, there was citizen involvement in this. And as we learn more about that, we’ll talk more about it. But it’s very tragic. And nobody is immune to it.”

This is still a fluid situation. Northern Michigan’s News Leader will continue to update you on the investigation.