GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A summer stabbing inside a Walmart, a fatal shooting in a downtown parking deck, and now an attempted abduction at a Meijer gas station have left residents across Grand Traverse County wondering how Traverse City – long seen as a postcard-safe destination – suddenly feels anything but.
A Walmart stabbing that jolted the region.
On July 26, 2025, 42-year-old Bradford James Gille allegedly stabbed 11 people inside a Walmart near Traverse City in what officials described as a “random act of violence.” Court records show Gille had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and had an extensive criminal history. He was found incompetent to stand trial in August and ordered into treatment at the Center for Forensic Psychiatry. No future trial date has been set. The attack rattled residents and spotlighted long-standing gaps in Michigan’s mental-health system.
A deadly parking-deck ambush.
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Just months later, on Saturday, November 15, a city employee was killed inside the Larry C. Hardy Parking Deck. Two teenagers – Eugene Thompson (17) and Hunter Vanderwall (18) – were arraigned three days later on murder and felony murder charges in the death of parking-services employee Lawrence Boyd IV, age 32. Both suspects were denied bond. According to investigators, the teens also allegedly stole from a vehicle inside the deck and fired at officers during their arrest.
Attempted abduction at Meijer.
Then came the incident early Sunday, November 23, when a 51-year-old Benzie County man was arrested for allegedly attempting to abduct a woman at the Meijer Express gas station in Garfield Township.
Dispatch audio captures officers discussing an attempted abduction involving a dark blue Jeep. The victim, 21-year-old Kylie Guy, shared her terrifying experience on Facebook: “I was the victim of this,” she said. “My fiancé ran into the gas station really quick to use the restroom and I got out of my car to go change my baby (8-month-old son) in the backseat and this man approached me with duct tape and told me to get in the car, thank God for the two men that were there and got this man to walk away from me because things could have ended up a lot worse. It’s a very scary world we live in. Please stay safe everyone.”
Guy told Michigan News Source that nothing about the man initially seemed alarming – he appeared to be an older white male who “looked pretty normal.” She said she first assumed it was her fiancé when he came up behind her and quietly whispered in her ear. But when she realized he was a stranger, she tried to get away. The man grabbed her, then eventually released his hold, causing her to fall. As she got back on her feet, she saw two men approaching and yelling at the suspect. She said she fought back – hitting and pushing him in an effort to break free – while the bystanders closed in. The suspect then simply turned and walked to his vehicle, got in, and drove away. Though the outcome was thankfully not fatal like in the other incidents, the attempt has intensified fears already heightened by months of violent incidents.
Searching for answers.
Residents have been debating online for months about what they view as a rising crime problem. Some blame what they consider a soft-on-crime approach by prosecutors. Others point to the surge in apartment construction, increased tourism, and a growing transient population. More people, they argue, bring more potential for conflict. The Gille stabbing highlighted deeper systemic failings – untreated mental illness and shortages in psychiatric beds that can lead to unpredictable and dangerous behavior.
A hidden crisis behind the tourist shine.
Beyond the headline-grabbing cases, other threats quietly exist. Human trafficking remains a significant concern in Northern Lower Michigan. Traverse City commissioner Daryl Nelson warned last year, “People think it doesn’t happen here because we’re not a big city. But I’m here to tell you it is happening here.” The Traverse City Record-Eagle similarly reported that the city’s status as a major tourist destination with hundreds of hotel rooms makes it a more likely location for trafficking.
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Local organizations have responded aggressively. In February, the Coalition to Combat Human Trafficking hosted training for frontline workers. Board member Linda Solem explained, “We have Cherry Festival. That is really, really big. And we have different car shows, different things like that. That’s when people will tend to come to Traverse City the most is during those busy times.”
Everyday places becoming soft targets.
The Walmart stabbing and Meijer attempted abduction both occurred in busy retail zones – areas that naturally attract crowds. These high-traffic spaces can become “soft targets,” offering opportunities for criminals to blend in and strike quickly.
Michigan News Source contacted Frontline Defensive, a firearms and personal-protection training center in Williamsburg – about 10 miles east of Traverse City – for guidance on staying safe. USCCA Certified Instructor Dan Brewer said, “Women, being the more vulnerable in our society need ALWAYS be situationally aware. When outside of their home they need to constantly be aware of their surroundings, and have a way to defend themselves against a stronger, aggressive perpetrator… Front Line Defensive recommends obtaining a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) which one needs to legally carry a stun gun, or a firearm concealed or at the ready in your vehicle.”
A community feeling exposed.
As the county wrestles with the shock of these incidents, the sense of safety Traverse City long enjoyed is showing cracks. Whether the causes stem from population growth, mental-health failures, tourism pressures, or changing attitudes toward public safety, residents are demanding clarity.
Grand Traverse County Sheriff Michael Shea offered his perspective, urging calm: “As far as Grand Traverse County, statistics don’t support any significant change. I think that because a couple of the incidents we recently had generated media attention, it kind of puts the spotlight on us. Unfortunately, no area is immune, but that is why we train and try and be a proactive as we can.”
For now, the community remains alert – hoping these incidents are isolated, not indicators of a deeper shift in Northern Michigan’s security landscape.
