Six people are dead, including the suspected gunman, following a series of shootings Friday in rural Missaukee County, Michigan, near Cadillac. One additional person was critically injured and taken to a hospital, according to Michigan State Police.
Authorities first responded at approximately 11:40 a.m. to a home in Lake Township, where troopers discovered three people dead and another person suffering from critical injuries. The wounded victim was transported for medical treatment.
Investigators identified 39-year-old Chad Hickman, from the Lake City/Jennings area, as the suspected gunman. Police initially warned that Hickman was armed and dangerous and launched a large-scale search involving law enforcement resources as they attempted to locate him.
A fourth victim was subsequently discovered at another location in Missaukee County. Hickman’s vehicle was later located near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township, several miles from the initial crime scene. Troopers searching the wooded area found Hickman dead along with another deceased person.
With Hickman’s death, authorities confirmed that six people had been killed in the shootings, including the suspected shooter. Police said there was no longer an ongoing threat to the public following the discovery of Hickman’s body.
Authorities have not yet released the names or ages of the other victims while they work to notify their families. Investigators are processing evidence from multiple locations and working to establish a complete timeline and determine what prompted the violence.
The incident has shocked the rural northern Michigan community, while state and local investigators continue working to understand the circumstances behind the deadly shooting spree. Michigan State Police said the investigation remains active and that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
