Brother of Walmart stabbing suspect speaks on previous mental health struggles
The family of Bradford Gille, the 42-year-old man accused of stabbing eleven people at a Walmart on Saturday, is shedding light on his long-standing mental health struggles.
Shane Gille, Bradford’s older brother, spoke about the challenges the family has faced over the years.
“There is a backstory to this and it’s put our family through hell,” Shane said. He described a lifelong battle with mental health issues that began when Bradford had a “bad reaction to a combination of drugs” at age 15, which Shane said left him in a “permanent trip.”
Shane recounted the family’s efforts to find long-term mental health care for Bradford, saying, “There’s nothing available and there has been nothing available. There’s only temporary spots for him.”
Bradford’s mental health issues have led to numerous encounters with law enforcement across the country. Shane said, “We’re trying to track him down. We got police looking for him for wellness checks.”
In 2016, Bradford was involved in an incident where he believed someone was buried alive at Greenwood Cemetery in Petoskey and attempted to dig up a grave. Charges were dismissed, allowing him to plead not guilty due to insanity.
Shane expressed the family’s frustration, saying, “This is just gone on so far and so long that like I said, you can’t throw any more flags.”
Before the Walmart incident, Bradford had been involved in other altercations, including an argument at Mackinaw Family Market where he allegedly pulled a knife, though he did not threaten anyone.
Shane offered an apology to those affected by the alleged actions on Saturday, saying, “To the families that have all been involved in the witnesses and everything, again, a big apology from my heart. All I can say is we’ve tried to get this under wraps for a very, very long time and we’ve just been ignored.”
READ MORE: https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/its-put-our-family-through-hell-walmart-stabbing-suspect-struggled-with-mental-health-bradford-gille-traverse-city-grand-traverse-county
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@nah_word
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
He's an illegal drug user, but that's so endearing; he needs help, not prison š¢
@nah_word
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
The master race strikes again
@richardshirley2786
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
Turning your back on a problem doesnāt make it go away.
@timr31908
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
We have another goon like this that hangs out at McDonald's 131 and 31.. he's a big son of a gun that rides a bicycle and he's definitely got mental illness.. he is very intimidating to people and there's no telling what he's going to do next
@Chocolate-t9x
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
Mental illness? Just call it what it is ! EVIL
@Chocolate-t9x
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
If he was black theyād say ā¦.. nvmd
@joanseaton1709
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
A heartbreaking story! šš¢šš¢šš¢š
@jomish8719
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
JOBLESS = DRUGS = HUNGRY = MENTAL ISSUES
@MonicaPierce-xi7sc
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
I can relate to this mans experience with having a mentally ill family member. My son Michael was Bipolar and medication never worked for him. T times Michael was in need of a long term placement. For his own safety. As well as meditation adjustment.
Unfortunately my bueatiful son Michael. Took his own life, A year ago.
@joenock3466
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
Illegal Biden criminal? If yes thanks Bidenš
@2003kle
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
I have a sick son that has belongs in a mental hospital-Impossible to find-luckily he doesn't harm others-age 16 got in a car wreck and got a traumatic brain injury (TBI) He is 54 now and is very ill but nothing we can do but help him from afar-obviously society needed this man to be in a locked facility a long long time ago–not PRISON-but here he is Tragic loss of life just terrible-GREAT SORROW ON ALL SIDES š
@ShalomShock
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
States won't allow for you to force them to get help. They either 1) have to be a danger to themselves, or 2) a danger to others before they will do anything.
@Torchlakegirl
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
Get him help!
@brutusmarcus
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
They do NOTHING if you mentality ill. Government is saying deal with the mentality unstable yourself.
@wd2romeo
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
I have worked in mental health and psychiatric facilities for many years. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of these people walking among us. This man and his brother/families story is one I hear every day .
@pamelahomeyer748
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
Text Shavano Reagan and the Republicans who don't want to pay for anything we have lots of these people running loose
@naturewatcher7596
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
If doctors had a drug which made the guy feel better why they didn't prescribed it to him to take on a regular basis?
@phyllissnook
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
So sad to your entire family. š¢šfor some kind of good help
@EllEss331
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
If you try to balance budgets by cutting support to mental health care, elderly care, and the disabled, this is the one of the predictable outcomes. Stop cutting help to those who need it the most. Higher taxes for the rich. Stop making tax loopholes for businesses.
@frankelezaj7640
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
This is very sad for this family. They want to help him but canāt.
@AuntieMamie
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
Nobody comes away unscathed.
@mizeriluvscompany2198
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
And it's just going to get worse with the Medicaid cuts. People that are effected by severe mental illness will lose health coverage and access to medicine.
@gerimccaleb8226
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
I read an other account from a childhood friend that bears out his brothers story. Experimenting with drugs at 15 with āfriendsā; having a bad reaction, almost dying, and never being ānormalā again. itās tragic. Itās terrible for the victims, but this man and his family lives with demons and there is no help. The closing of mental hospitals, and the use of mind altering drugs will lead to more tragedy while peopel champion the legalization of drugs will lead to more and more psychotic events.
@SSilver-25
September 10, 2025 at 6:17 am
The mother blamed marijuana he smoke 30 years agoā¦ā¦.but SCHIZOPHRENIA is not really created by weedā¦.science sometimes is importantly, just like his needs not being met. He should have been in a lovely farm working a garden and riding horses, away for. Societyā¦we are too nuts for people like him. This entire nation has serious mental health issues, we elected a lying felon and sexual predator, who pardoned patriots who have since killed othersā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦..chain reactionā¦.of abandonment ā¦ā¦of turning the other cheekā¦of looking the other wayā¦of sweeping under the rugā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦ā¦.and here we are sweeping criminal under the rugā¦..again!
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