Lake Township − Six people are dead, including the suspect, in a mass shooting near Cadillac in northern Michigan’s rural Missaukee County, Michigan State Police confirmed Friday.
The suspect, 39-year-old Chad Hickman of Lake City, was found dead in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township, police said, about five miles north of where the first victims were found. The ages and genders of the victims were not released Friday evening, pending notification of their families.
It was a crime scene that spanned at least three different locations across Missaukee, a county of only about 15,000 residents located 25 miles west of Houghton Lake. At 10 p.m. Friday, police still had LaChance Road at Rosted Road closed while they continued their investigation in the heavily wooded area.
It marks the second mass killing in three weeks in Michigan. Seven family members in Grand Haven Township were shot dead on July 24 by the father, who died by suicide after killing his six children, ages 5 to 15, and wife. The bodies were found dead inside their west Michigan home after it was set afire, authorities said.
Police respond to Lake Twp. shooting
On Friday, Michigan State Police troopers responded to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township around 11:40 a.m. Friday for a report of a person who had been shot. They found three bodies and one person in critical condition. The person in critical condition was taken to a hospital, according to the state police.
Police determined Hickman had fled the scene before the troopers’ arrival, which triggered a search from Michigan State Police aviation and canine units. During the search, they found a fourth body inside another Missaukee County home.
Troopers eventually found Hickman’s body after they found his vehicle in the wooded area near Whitlock Lake. A fifth alleged victim was also found in the wooded area, the release said.
Suspect had recent divorce, abuse conviction
Hickman had recently been divorced in a 2025 case in which the judge wrote that it was “uncontested” that the marriage had allegations of domestic violence on both sides that were “at the heart of the issues before the court.” He was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to delinquency of children in connection with a 2010 criminal case, according to 28th Circuit Court records.
Hickman was sentenced to 365 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,775 in costs and fees from his conviction.
MSP closed South LaChance between W. Rosted Road and West Jennings Road in Missaukee County due to the active police investigation.
Suspect considered armed, dangerous
While searching for Hickman, MSP issued a post saying that Hickman should be considered armed and dangerous and warning the public not to approach him. “If you see him or know his whereabouts, CALL 911!” the post said.
One of the crime scene locations was on LaChance Road just north of J&H Auto Parts, The Detroit News has learned. Police have also closed off the street in front of Wilderness Convenience Store and Gas.
“Nobody can get in the store,” said convenience store worker Paul Singh.
Prayers requested for community, family
Scott Alexander, who lives in Lake City, about six miles east of the crime scene, said he noticed the flashing police lights on LaChance Road Friday afternoon, when he was driving to Cadillac.
When he later heard what happened, he was “disgusted.”
“You don’t do that,” Alexander, 57, said as he sipped a drink Friday night at a Lake City bar. “What a coward. What’s wrong with people these days?”
State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, offered his condolences for the situation in his district.
“Please join me in praying for our Northern Michigan community tonight after the unspeakable acts of violence we saw unfold today, especially send prayers for the six families who lost a loved one today and pray that an additional person, currently fighting for their life, will pull through and make a full recovery.”
“This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved,” said MSP Lt. Ashley Miller. “We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available.”
jchambers@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 6 dead, including shooter, and one critical in mass shooting near Cadillac
Reporting by Jennifer Chambers and Max Bryan, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jennifer Chambers and Max Bryan, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
