Six people, including a 39-year-old suspect, died Friday in a mass shooting across rural Missaukee County, Michigan. Michigan State Police responded to a home on South LaChance Road around 11:40 a.m. following reports of gunfire, triggering a multi-location manhunt before locating the gunman dead in a wooded area.
A string of violent incidents spanned at least three separate locations across Missaukee County, an area of roughly 15,000 residents situated 25 miles west of Houghton Lake, according to Detroitnews. Michigan State Police troopers arrived at a South LaChance Road home in Lake Township at approximately 11:40 a.m. Friday, where they discovered three bodies and one person alive but suffering from critical injuries. The wounded individual was transported to a hospital.
Law enforcement determined that the primary suspect had already fled the scene before troopers arrived. The departure prompted an extensive manhunt utilizing Michigan State Police aviation and canine units. During the search, authorities discovered a fourth body inside another residence within the county, as reported by AP News.
Manhunt and Suspect Identification in Missaukee County
Investigators identified the suspect as 39-year-old Chad Hickman of Lake City, noting that he lived in the Lake City and Jennings area. While the search remained active, Hindustantimes reported that police shared a photograph of Hickman online and warned the public that he may have been driving a white pickup truck with a discolored tailgate.
“If you see him or know his whereabouts, CALL 911!”
As patrols scoured the region, troopers located Hickman’s abandoned vehicle in a heavily wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township, approximately five miles north of where the initial victims were found. That vehicle discovery led officers directly to Hickman’s body and a fifth victim’s body nearby in the woods, bringing the total death toll to six.
Court Records and Prior Legal History
Public court records from the 28th Circuit Court reveal that Hickman had a recent legal history in the county. He had been through a divorce finalized in 2025, during which a judge noted that the marriage had allegations of domestic violence on both sides that were at the heart of the issues before the court
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Additionally, Detroitnews confirmed that Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children. Court documents show he was sentenced to 365 days in jail and ordered to pay $1,775 in costs and fees.
Community Impact and Ongoing Investigations
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the northern Michigan community, marking the second mass killing in the state within a three-week span, following a late July incident in Grand Haven Township. Local leaders and law enforcement voiced deep concern over the situation.
State Representative Ken Borton urged the public to offer prayers for the victims’ families and for the person fighting for survival in the hospital. Meanwhile, Michigan State Police kept road closures in place along South LaChance Road between West Rosted Road and West Jennings Road as forensic teams processed multiple active crime scenes.
