“Send in the Marines.” It’s been the solution to America’s problems for a long, long time. A prime example of this old adage was seen recently when Marine Corps veterans Derrick Perry and Matt Kolakowski came to the rescue of shoppers at a Michigan Walmart.
Perry was checking out at the store when he heard screaming. Like most Devil Dogs, Perry was taught to run toward the sound of trouble, so that’s exactly what he did. He followed the commotion to the parking lot, where he saw a knife-wielding man who appeared to be on a rampage.
Kolakowski was already outside and saw the attacker stab a woman outside the store. Both men immediately sprang into action. Kolakowski grabbed a shopping cart and charged at the assailant to keep him at bay. Screaming loudly and charging at the attacker, he forced the man away from other potential victims.
Meanwhile, Perry came outside, immediately assessed the situation, and pulled out his sidearm. Other shoppers also tried to get involved, but it was Perry and Kolakowski’s training that separated them from the others. Keeping his gun trained on the assailant, Perry took control of a hectic situation. He made sure to stand in front of the assailant and steer him away from the others who were also moving in.
Perry also did something that many people, including law enforcement, fail to do. He saw that the attacker was not in the right mental state. He could have shot the man easily and been lauded as a hero. However, he realized that this person was having issues and instead used his weapon to keep the man away from others until police arrived. Perry said the man was insisting that he was “told” to perpetrate the attack. He told the suspect the police were on their way and talked the man down.
In an age of “shoot first and ask questions later,” Perry did what most Marines are trained to do: Keep your actions adaptable to the situation. His instincts proved to be right. The suspect was identified as 42-year-old Bradford James Gille, who has had a history of criminal and mental health issues. He has been charged with one count of terrorism and 11 counts of assault with the intent to murder (one for each victim). It turns out that the Emmet County Sheriff was looking for Gille the day before, but could not locate him.
Gille was considered legally insane by the state after being brought to trial for dismemberment and mutilation of dead bodies and malicious destruction of tombs and monuments. He was diagnosed as bipolar and has been in and out of trouble for such crimes as felonious assault, domestic violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, retail fraud, possession of marijuana, and public intoxication.
Needless to say, Perry and Kolakowski could have stayed away and not dealt with what appeared to be a knife-wielding madman the way they did. No one would have faulted them for it. But that isn’t what Marines do. Both displayed the initiative and level-headedness that Marines are taught to have and de-escalated a horrible situation. And in the process, they saved lives.
Semper Fi.
