On Saturday evening around 5 p.m., chaos erupted inside a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, when a knife-wielding man began stabbing unsuspecting shoppers near the checkout area. In a scene that could’ve ended far worse, it was an armed citizen—also a U.S. Marine—who stepped in and helped bring the attacker down.
According to WDIV, 11 people were injured in the stabbing spree. Four of them remain in serious condition, and seven are recovering in fair condition at Munson Medical Center.
But here’s where the story takes a turn—and a powerful reminder of why the Second Amendment matters.
Marine Matt Kolakowski, who happened to be shopping at the time, said he immediately gave chase once the attack began. Another man—also a Marine and legally armed—drew his firearm and helped subdue the suspect.
“The other Marine told me that he just went shooting at a range and forgot to take his pistol off his hip,” Kolakowski recalled. “That’s what it all came down to.”
In a world where the mainstream often tries to cast gun owners in a negative light, this incident shines a spotlight on what responsible, trained citizens can do when seconds count.
One witness, Chris O’Brien, had this to say about the armed Marine:
“The guy that had the gun showed great restraint, because I think everyone else would have pulled the trigger.”
Let’s be honest—this could have been much worse. But thanks to quick-thinking heroes and a law-abiding gun owner, countless lives may have been saved.
