11 Stabbed at Walmart: The Traverse City Wake-Up Call

Episode 4 – The Protector Series
Hosted by: Alex Klenofsky, Founder of Odin Defense Group

In this gripping episode of The Protector Series, we break down one of the most chilling and overlooked acts of violence in recent memory — a mass stabbing inside a Walmart in Traverse City, Michigan, where 11 innocent people, including a child and a store employee, were attacked without warning.

It happened fast.
It happened quietly.
It could have happened to anyone.

But what makes this story unforgettable… is how it ended.

Marine veteran Derrick Perry, shopping with his family, stepped forward with controlled, tactical precision. He didn’t panic. He didn’t fire his weapon. He issued clear verbal commands and held the attacker at gunpoint until police arrived. Zero shots fired. Mass violence stopped cold.

In this episode, host Alex Klenofsky — a former law enforcement officer, U.S. Coast Guard veteran, and CEO of Odin Defense Group — breaks down the events step-by-step, using a tactical lens and real-world insight to extract lessons that could save lives.

We explore:

• What exactly happened inside that Walmart

• How the attacker concealed his intent and avoided detection for nearly 30 minutes

• The brutal injuries inflicted on 11 people in a matter of seconds

• The mindset, training, and discipline that allowed Derrick Perry to intervene effectively and safely

• The mistakes most civilians make when chaos breaks out — and how to avoid them

• Why situational awareness is your first line of defense

• How to issue verbal commands that freeze attackers in their tracks

• Why carrying a weapon isn’t enough — and how training makes all the difference

• Tips for protecting your family in everyday places like stores, parking lots, and public spaces

• The realities of violence in 2025 — and what it means to be your own first responder

We also break down four tactical lessons every civilian should take away from this incident:

1. Situational Awareness – How to spot subtle behavioral cues in public spaces.

2. Movement to Contact – When and how to move toward danger, only if properly trained.

3. Verbal Command & Control – Using your voice as a weapon to establish dominance and control.

4. Trigger Discipline – Why restraint is a tactical advantage and how it prevented further bloodshed.

This isn’t just another true crime podcast.

This is real-world debriefing, tactical mindset training, and situational breakdown — all designed to arm you with the skills, awareness, and clarity to not just survive... but to protect.

Whether you’re a concealed carry holder, a parent, a professional, or someone who just wants to be harder to kill — this episode will challenge how you think about safety in public places.

Derrick Perry didn’t freeze.
He didn’t flee.
He stood firm — and saved lives.

This episode honors his courage, but more importantly, it uses that moment to help you develop the readiness to act when seconds count.

Because in today’s world, there’s no room for hesitation.
You are the first responder.

Subscribe to The Protector Series for weekly episodes that fuse real-life crime stories with hard-earned security insights, self-defense strategies, and practical steps to protect what matters most. From mass attacks to kidnapping escapes, home invasions to targeted scams — we break it all down and teach you how to fight back smart.

🛡️ Visit OdinDefenseGroup.com for training, resources, and to join the movement.
🎙️ Follow Alex Klenofsky and Odin Defense Group on social media for clips, live Q&A, and more.
📍 Based in Tampa, Florida – Protecting communities nationwide.

Power. Precision. Protection.
This is The Protector Series.

Music credits:

I Walk With Ghosts' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au