A 29-year-old man from Walker, Christian Thompson, has been arraigned after allegedly stabbing a stranger at the Comstock Park Walmart on Friday, August 1. The incident, which took place in the store’s automotive section, left the victim— a 23-year-old man— hospitalized with serious injuries.
Thompson, charged with assault with intent to do great bodily harm, was denied bail and had his bond set at $500,000. The court documents reveal a shocking series of events, with Thompson admitting to the attack after initially denying any involvement.
According to police, Thompson was with his brother and a friend when he approached the victim from behind and began stabbing him. The victim was stabbed in the back, neck, and chest, resulting in multiple surgeries. As he bled, the victim managed to escape to the pharmacy section in search of materials to stop the bleeding.
Witnesses described seeing Thompson run from the scene, with one bystander chasing him down and eventually knocking him to the ground with a shopping cart, allowing for his arrest.
During questioning, Thompson claimed the attack was "spur of the moment" and motivated by frustration over a missing truck. He initially denied any involvement, but later admitted to using a knife, saying he wanted to "scare" the victim because he thought the group might be involved in his truck’s disappearance.
The incident at the Walmart in Comstock Park occurred just days after another stabbing incident at a Walmart in Traverse City, where 11 people were injured.
Thompson, who has a criminal history from California, is scheduled to return to court on August 13 for a probable cause conference. The victim remains in stable condition.