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Five killed; suspect dead
Authorities investigated killings of five people Friday in rural Northern Michigan, with Michigan State Police saying the suspect was also found dead after a manhunt.
“Authorities are investigating the killings of five people Friday in rural Northern Michigan”
State police said troopers were called at about 11:40 a.m. local time to a shooting at a home in Lake Township in Missaukee County, where they arrived to find three people dead and a fourth person in critical condition.
Michigan State Police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Chad Hickman, saying he fled the scene before troopers arrived and prompting a search.
During the search, investigators found a fourth victim dead at a separate home in Missaukee County and later found Hickman and another individual dead near a wooded area close to Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township.
Lt. Ashley Miller said, "This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved," as authorities continued to piece together what happened.
Multiple scenes, no motive
Michigan State Police described the case as a multi-scene investigation after what started with a 911 call about someone being shot, with troopers dispatched around 11:40 a.m. to a residence on LaChance Road in Lake Township.
WPBN/WGTU reported that investigators discovered another deceased person near a wooded area by Whitlock Lake and another inside a separate residence, while Michigan State Police said the suspect, Chad Hickman, 39, was found dead.
The Guardian said it was unclear what circumstances led up to the shooting, and it described the incident as a mass shooting on Friday that left six people dead, including the suspected gunman, in Missaukee county.
NBC News said a motive remains under investigation, while the New York Times reported that a motive for the shootings was not immediately known.
In a statement cited by multiple outlets, Lt. Ashley Miller said, "We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available."
Community impact; investigation
Officials said there was no ongoing danger to the public while police continued patrolling and responding to calls for service, even as resources were tied up at the scenes.
“Miller says there is no threat to the public”
The Detroit News reported that police still had LaChance Road at Rosted Road closed at 10 p.m. Friday while they continued their investigation in the heavily wooded area.
Michigan State Police asked residents to avoid all three locations while investigators processed each scene, according to ClickOnDetroit, which also said the investigation remained ongoing.
The Guardian added that court records indicate Hickman was in the process of a divorce and had been sentenced to more than a year in county jail after pleading guilty in 2024 to two misdemeanors.
As authorities continued to withhold victim information pending notification, Lt. Ashley Miller said, "We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available."
