ADRIAN, Mich. — Michigan police are investigating a stabbing at a Meijer store in Adrian that killed an 85-year-old Lenawee County man.
The incident happened Wednesday afternoon.
Adrian police confirmed that the male suspect, a 29-year-old resident of Adrian, is in custody. An individual with a Concealed Pistol License held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived.
No identity was released for the victim. Adrian police on Thursday identified the 29-year-old as Alarik Guajardo, saying he was booked into the Lenawee County jail on a count of open homicide, pending formal charges.
The victim had sustained multiple stab wounds to the head and neck and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Customers at the store on Wednesday were shocked and said this type of violence is rare.
"It's very unsettling because you just don't hear this happening, very rarely," Angela Garza said. Garza has lived in Adrian for 18 years.
The suspect was treated at a nearby hospital for unknown injuries and remains in police custody.
A parent at the store, who did not want to be identified, said it's sad that it's now possible for things like this to happen anywhere.
"Kind of nervous and scared," the Adrian resident of 10 years said. "I mean I have little kids and now you can't even go shopping without feeling nervous and you don't know what's going to happen."
Police dispatch had initially confirmed there was an incident at the Meijer in Adrian, at 217 U.S. 223, saying just after 2 p.m. that "all their officers are currently at Meijer" but provided no further details at the time.
A person at the scene of the Meijer location contacted WTOL 11 and gave a description of what they witnessed.
According to the person on scene, around 12:20 p.m. they were at the Meijer parking lot and described seeing "a man in his 20s with a long trench coat" entering Meijer. According to the witness, the man started stabbing people, and the witness said a person with a concealed-carry weapon held the suspect at gunpoint until police arrived.
Some customers said the person who held the suspect at gunpoint saved more lives.
"I''m actually glad that there was somebody there with their license to stop the guy," a customer said, "because if he did that to this person, who knows who else he'd do it to."
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Adrian Police Department Detective Sergeant LaMar Rufner at 517-264-4808.
This is a developing story. WTOL will keep you updated on air and online with any new information.