A tragic shooting spree in Michigan on Friday resulted in five fatalities and set off an intense manhunt that concluded with the suspected shooter found dead.
The violence was first reported at a residence in Missaukee County. Michigan State Police stated in a news release that troopers arrived at the scene following a report of a shooting at approximately 11:40 a.m. They discovered three deceased individuals and one person critically injured at the location.
According to state police, the suspect, identified as 39-year-old Chad Hickman, had left the scene before officers arrived.
Later, authorities discovered two more victims, one in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake and another in a different residence.
The search for Hickman, described by police as armed and dangerous, was intense. Eventually, he was found dead in the woods near Whitlock Lake, although the cause of death was not immediately known.
The suspect’s vehicle was discovered close to the area where his body was found.
Michigan State Police Lt. Ashley Miller expressed that “this situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved.”
“We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available.”
Court records indicate Hickman had a previous conviction for misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children, stemming from a 2010 case by the Missaukee County Sheriff’s Department, the Detroit News reported.
He was sentenced to a year in jail.
The charges were based on a complaint from his ex-wife, Katie Hickman, who filed for divorce in September 2023, citing the significant deterioration of their marriage. This was according to a written opinion by Judge Melissa Ransom during a 2025 divorce trial.
The judge noted that the marriage involved allegations of domestic violence from both Hickman and his ex-wife.
Katie described her marriage to Chad as being marked by “control, coercion, and fear,” according to the court opinion.
