A quiet rural community in northern Michigan woke up to an unimaginable nightmare. Five people lost their lives, and another was left critically injured after a series of shootings shook Missaukee County. The suspected gunman, identified by authorities as 39-year-old Chad Hickman, was later found dead following a massive manhunt.
Here is what actually happened based on reports from the Michigan State Police and local authorities.
How the Tragedy Unfolded
Troopers rushed to a home in Missaukee County right before noon after receiving urgent emergency calls about a shooting. When officers arrived at the scene, they found three people dead and a fourth person suffering from critical wounds. That surviving victim was rushed to a nearby hospital.
Hickman had already fled the property before police units arrived.
What followed was a tense, large-scale search across the rural region. As investigators locked down the area and warned residents that Hickman was armed and dangerous, they uncovered a grim new detail: a fourth deceased victim was found at a second residence.
State police tracked Hickman's vehicle to a wooded area near Whitlock Lake. Officers searching the woods located Hickman's body alongside another deceased individual. In total, five victims and the suspect were found dead, bringing the death toll to six.
Investigating the Background
Details about Hickman and his history have slowly emerged from court records and police statements. Public records show that Hickman was going through a divorce. Court documents also indicate he had past legal trouble, including a guilty plea in 2024 to misdemeanor charges connected to a 2010 offense involving child abuse in the fourth degree and contributing to the delinquency of a child.
Law enforcement has not yet confirmed whether his prior record or marital proceedings had any direct link to the violence.
Police have held off on releasing the names, ages, or specific genders of the victims while family notifications are being carried out. Investigators are still working through multiple active crime scenes to piece together the exact sequence of events and determine a motive.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer released a statement confirming she was briefed on the unfolding crisis and monitoring the situation closely. Meanwhile, local law enforcement continues to process evidence across Missaukee County as the community begins the long and painful process of grieving.
