Michigan Shootings Leave 5 Dead Plus Suspect After Large-Scale Manhunt
A series of shootings across rural Missaukee County, Michigan, left five people dead along with the suspected gunman, Chad Hickman, 39, of Lake City, following a large-scale search by law enforcement on Friday. A sixth person—a 13-year-old girl—was critically injured and transported to a hospital, where she was reported stable by Saturday, according to AP News.
The Incident
Michigan State Police troopers were dispatched at approximately 11:40 a.m. Friday to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township, about 170 miles northwest of Detroit, after receiving a report that a person had been shot. Upon arrival, officers found three people dead and a fourth person in critical condition, who was rushed to an area hospital.
The identified suspect, Chad Hickman, fled the scene before troopers arrived, triggering a large-scale manhunt involving the MSP Emergency Support Team, Aviation, and Canine units. During the search, authorities discovered a fourth deceased individual at a second, separate home in Missaukee County.
Troopers later located Hickman’s vehicle near a wooded area close to Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township. There, they found Hickman dead along with another deceased person. Police had warned on social media that Hickman was armed and dangerous and urged community members not to approach him.
The Victims
Michigan State Police provided updated victim information on Saturday, identifying the deceased by age and gender but withholding names pending family notification. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 45, according to NBC News.
The first three people found dead at the LaChance Road home were a 45-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman, and a 16-year-old boy. A 53-year-old man was found shot dead at another home, and a 29-year-old woman was found deceased alongside Hickman in the wooded area near Whitlock Lake.
The critically injured 13-year-old girl was transported to a hospital in critical condition but was reported stable by Saturday. State police said there is no further threat to the public.
The Suspect’s Troubled Past
Court records reviewed by The Detroit News reveal a history of violence and a contentious divorce. In January 2024, Hickman was arraigned on four felony and five misdemeanor charges in Missaukee County, including assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder by strangulation, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of interfering with electronic communications.
In August 2024, Hickman pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree child abuse and one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. All other charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 365 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,775 in costs and fees. The charges stemmed from a 2010 criminal case brought by the Missaukee County Sheriff’s Department based on a complaint by his then-wife, Katie Hickman.
Hickman’s divorce from Katie Hickman, who filed in September 2023, was marked by allegations of domestic violence. In a 2025 divorce opinion, Judge Melissa Ransom wrote that allegations of domestic violence were “at the heart of the issues before the court,” describing the relationship as marked by “significant dysfunction and mutual toxicity,” as The Detroit Free Press reported.
Katie Hickman testified that her marriage was characterized by “control, coercion, and fear,” alleging threats involving physical violence, sexual assault, and financial control. Hickman, who posted parts of the court file on his Facebook page, denied the allegations, claiming his ex-wife’s story was fabricated.
Community Shock and Investigation
Lt. Ashley Miller, a Michigan State Police public information officer, described the tragedy’s impact on the rural community. “Not only is this difficult for our investigators and our troopers, but it’s very hard for this community,” Miller told UpNorthLive. “This type of loss is tragic. And we’re going to conduct a thorough investigation, and we want to make sure to keep our community members up to date on our current situation and what we’re discovering throughout this process.”
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was briefed on the shooting and issued a statement: “My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Missaukee community.”
Missaukee County is a rural area in northern Michigan with a population of about 15,000, located roughly 25 miles west of Houghton Lake. The shooting occurred less than a month after the Karolkiewicz family murders, another mass shooting in Michigan, according to Wikipedia.
What Remains Unknown
Authorities have not announced a motive for the killings, and investigators have not publicly explained the relationships between Hickman and each of the victims. The circumstances surrounding each death, including how Hickman himself died, remain under investigation. State police said the investigation remains active and asked the public to avoid the affected areas while detectives continue processing the scenes.
According to The Detroit News, while several names have surfaced on social media, authorities had neither confirmed nor released the identities of the victims as of Saturday. Investigators have identified the five victims by age and gender but have not yet established their relationships to one another or to the suspect.
As the investigation continues, the community of Missaukee County is left to grapple with a tragedy that has touched multiple families and shaken a quiet rural region. State police have pledged to provide updates as new information becomes available.