Michigan State Police identified the suspected gunman as 39-year-old Chad Hickman after a large-scale search in Missaukee County.
MISSAUKEE COUNTY, Mich. — Six people, including the suspected gunman, were found dead Friday after a series of shootings at multiple locations in northern Michigan, while another person was hospitalized in critical condition, according to Michigan State Police.
The violence unfolded Aug. 14 in Missaukee County and led to a large police search involving state troopers and specialized units. Authorities identified the suspected gunman as Chad Hickman, 39. Police said Hickman left the first shooting scene before troopers arrived, prompting warnings that he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Troopers were first sent at about 11:40 a.m. to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township after receiving a report that someone had been shot. Police said officers found three people dead inside or at the property and another person critically injured. The wounded person was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Hickman was no longer at the property when police arrived, authorities said. The search expanded across the area and included the Michigan State Police Emergency Support Team, aviation resources and canine units. Authorities warned residents not to approach Hickman as law enforcement worked to find him.
As the search continued, investigators found a fourth person dead at another home in Missaukee County. Police did not immediately release the names or ages of the victims, saying notifications to family members were still being made. Authorities also had not publicly explained what led to the shootings or whether the victims knew Hickman.
Investigators later located Hickman’s vehicle in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township. Troopers searching the area found Hickman dead along with another person, bringing the total number of deaths to six, including Hickman. Police had not immediately disclosed the circumstances surrounding Hickman’s death or released additional details about the person found with him.
Lt. Ashley Miller of the Michigan State Police described the incident as heartbreaking for the community and difficult for investigators. She said authorities remained committed to a thorough investigation and would release additional information as it became available. Investigators expected to continue processing evidence from the separate scenes.
The shootings affected several locations in the rural county, requiring authorities to preserve and examine multiple scenes while reconstructing the sequence of events. Police had not announced a suspected motive as of Friday night, and several key questions remained unanswered, including the relationships among the people involved and the events that preceded the first call to police.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she had been briefed on the shootings and was monitoring the situation. She expressed sympathy for the victims, their families and the Missaukee County community as investigators continued their work.
Michigan State Police said the investigation remained active. The identities of the victims and further details about the shootings were expected to be released only after investigators completed additional work and appropriate family notifications.