Six dead, including suspect, in northern Michigan shooting

Michigan State Police confirmed that six people, including the suspected shooter, died in a series of shootings near Cadillac in Missaukee County on Friday. The suspect, 39-year-old Chad Hickman of Lake City, was discovered dead in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township, about five miles north of the initial crime scene.

Police responded to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township around 11:40 a.m. after a report of a shooting. Troopers found three bodies and a fourth victim inside another county residence. A fifth victim was located in the woods where Hickman's vehicle was later found. The remaining injured person was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Authorities said Hickman had fled before officers arrived, prompting a search involving aviation and canine units. While searching, officials warned the public that Hickman was considered armed and dangerous and instructed anyone with information to call 911.

Hickman's recent personal history includes a 2025 divorce that involved mutual domestic-violence allegations and a 2024 misdemeanor conviction for child abuse and contributing to delinquency, for which he served a year in jail.

The investigation spanned at least three locations across the sparsely populated county, leading to road closures on LaChance Road and nearby streets.

"We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available," MSP Lt. Ashley Miller said.

"Please join me in praying for our Northern Michigan community tonight after the unspeakable acts of violence we saw unfold today," State Rep. Ken Borton added.

The incident follows a separate mass killing in Michigan three weeks earlier, in which a father killed seven family members before taking his own life.