An armed hero who confronted the “wild-eyed” suspect of a mass stabbing at Walmart kept his cool despite bystanders urging him to open fire — declaring in a new interview he’s no “judge, jury or executioner.”
Marine veteran Derrick Perry, in a Tuesday appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” described the chaos that enveloped the Traverse City superstore Saturday when 11 people were allegedly knifed by Bradford James Gille.
“A lady was screaming for her son and all the employees and patrons were clamoring, trying to run in different directions,” Perry recalled.
When Gille fled out to the parking lot, Perry, along with others, dropped his groceries and surrounded the alleged attacker.
Perry, a hospital worker, pulled out his gun, but did not shoot Gille — even though he said others were calling on him to pull the trigger.
“Unfortunately, there was kinda like a mob mentality and some very disturbing things were being said on how to deal with the situation,” Perry said.
“I had to block all of that out and focus on him [Gille] because … I ultimately just wanted him to put the knife down and back away until law enforcement got there,” he went on.
“I did not see myself as any type of judge, jury or executioner. I just wanted everyone to be safe.”
Gille was rambling and appeared out of his mind, Perry recalled.
“I could see it in his eyes that he was wild-eyed and he did not look like he was in his right mind,” he said. “And he was saying, ‘They told me to do it. They told me to do it. And call 911.’
“I said they are on their way. They are coming,” said Perry, who described how he worked to de-escalate the situation.
“I took time to actually look and listen and try to understand his mind state, and see that, yes, I am in a position to do something very rash, but it’s ultimately my decision to not do it as well,” he said.
“De-escalate the situation, try to get him to surrender on his own accord.”
Despite his brave actions, which ensured that Gille was taken into custody without incident and with no further injuries, Perry doesn’t consider himself a hero.
“The only thing that separated me from the other gentlemen that had stepped in as well was what I was carrying in my hands,” he said.
“I think I would have ran out there or walked out there and helped either way. It was just a moment of, ‘I got a duty to protect.’”
Gille was arrested and arraigned on one count of felony terrorism and 11 counts of assault with intent to murder in Grand Traverse County District Court on Monday.
He is due in court again on Aug. 6.
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