Lake Township − A mass killing that unfolded in Missaukee County on Friday left six people dead, including the suspected gunman, and one additional person critically injured.
Michigan State Police early Saturday continued to investigate at the scenes, which spanned multiple locations in rural Missaukee County and prompted a large-scale manhunt before the suspect was found dead.
The suspect, Chad Hickman, had a troubled history documented in criminal court and divorce records, The Detroit News found.
What happened?
Michigan State Police said troopers were dispatched about 11:40 a.m. Friday to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township after a report that a person had been shot. When troopers arrived, they found three people dead and another person critically injured.
The surviving victim was taken to a hospital where they remained in critical condition.
Investigators later determined that the suspect had fled before troopers arrived, triggering a search involving Michigan State Police aviation and canine units. During that search, authorities discovered a fourth body at a separate home in Missaukee County.
Troopers eventually located the suspect’s vehicle in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township. There, authorities found the suspect dead along with another person who is believed to be a victim.
In total, six people died, including the suspect, and one person remained in critical condition.
Who was the suspect?
Michigan State Police identified the suspect as Chad Hickman, 39, of the Lake City area. During the manhunt, authorities warned the public that Hickman should be considered armed and dangerous and advised anyone who saw him to call 911 rather than approach him.
Hickman was later found dead in the wooded area near Whitlock Lake and police said there was no further risk to the public.
What is known about the victims?
Although several names have been surfaced on social media, authorities had neither confirmed nor released the names, ages or genders of the victims. Police also had not publicly explained how the victims were connected to Hickman or to one another.
One victim survived the shootings but was hospitalized in critical condition late Friday.
What is known about Hickman’s background?
Court records reviewed by The Detroit News show Hickman had a criminal history and had been involved in a contentious divorce.
Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children in connection with a 2010 criminal case. According to court records, several more serious charges were dismissed.
The most criminal case stemmed from allegations made by his then-wife, Katie Hickman, who later filed for divorce in September 2023.
What did the divorce records reveal?
In a 2025 divorce opinion, Judge Melissa Ransom wrote that allegations of domestic violence were “at the heart of the issues before the court.” The judge described the relationship as marked by “significant dysfunction and mutual toxicity,” citing testimony from both sides as well as friends and family members.
According to the opinion, Katie Hickman testified that her marriage was characterized by “control, coercion, and fear.” The judge wrote that she alleged she faced threats involving physical violence, sexual assault and financial control and that violence in the marriage went both ways.
What remains unknown?
Investigators have not announced a motive for the killings. Authorities also have not explained the circumstances surrounding each death or publicly described the relationships among the suspect and victims.
Michigan State Police said the investigation remains active and asked the public to avoid the affected homes and wooded area while detectives continue processing the scenes.
What officials are saying
Michigan State Police Lt. Ashley Miller called the case “heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved.”
“We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available,” Miller said.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Missaukee County mass killing update: What we know
Reporting by Max Bryan, Max Reinhart and Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Max Bryan, Max Reinhart and Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
