MISSAUKEE COUNTY, Michigan — A 13-year-old girl lay critically injured inside a home. A 16-year-old boy was already gone. And the man responsible had vanished into the woods.
What unfolded Friday morning in rural northern Michigan left an entire community shaken and searching for answers.
What happened at the first scene
Officers responded Friday to reports of a shooting at a home roughly 170 miles northwest of Detroit.
When they arrived, they found three people dead — a 16-year-old boy, a 45-year-old man, and a 40-year-old woman. A 13-year-old girl was found critically injured inside the same home.
She survived. As of Saturday, she is listed in stable condition.
Suspect fled — then a second victim was found
Authorities identified the suspect as Chad Hickman, 39, who fled the scene after the first shooting.
What followed was a large-scale search across the county.
During that search, police discovered the body of a 53-year-old man at a second home. A neighbor, Tim Penrose, confirmed that Hickman had been living at that address.
Penrose said he heard gunshots but didn’t think much of it. In rural areas, he noted, gunfire is not unusual.
Suspect found dead in the woods
The search ended when authorities located Hickman’s body in a wooded area — alongside a 29-year-old woman, also dead.
All victims died of gunshot wounds, Michigan State Police confirmed.
In total, six people lost their lives — five victims and the suspect himself.
Who was Chad Hickman
Court records show Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and sentenced to one year in jail.
In that same case, felony assault and criminal sexual conduct charges were dismissed.
Neighbor Tim Penrose said Hickman frequently harassed him and his wife, though he did not provide further details.
Community and state respond
Michigan State Police Lt. Ashley Miller called the situation deeply painful for everyone involved.
“This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved,” Miller said Friday.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she was monitoring the situation closely and expressed her thoughts for the victims and the Missaukee community.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together exactly what led to one of the deadliest days this rural Michigan county has seen in recent memory.
Have you or someone you know been affected by this tragedy? Share your thoughts in the comments — this community deserves to be heard.