Boy, 16, Among 6 Dead, Including Gunman, In Michigan Shootings, As Girl Survives: Report

MISSAUKEE COUNTY, MI — A 16-year-old boy and four adults died Friday in shootings that prompted massive search for the escaped gunman, whose body was later discovered along one of his victims, authorities told The Associated Press.

Troopers were dispatched at 11:40 a.m. Friday to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township for a report of a person shot, and there they found three people dead, including the 16-year-old, a 45-year-old man, and a 40-year-old woman, and a 13-year-old girl with critical injuries.

The girl was taken to an area hospital, where she remains in critical but stable condition.

Thirty-nine-year-old Chad Hickman was found dead after a search of Missaukee County, police told The AP.

The body of a second man was found at a second home, and then a 29-year-old woman next to Hickman, according to the outlet.

All had died of gunshot wounds, the outlet reported.

Police said Hickman fled before troopers arrived, prompting a large-scale police response and searches from the MSP Emergency Support Team and its aviation and canine units.

Troopers eventually saw Hickman's vehicle near a wooded area close to Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township, officials said.

While searching for Hickman, the Missaukee County Sheriff's Office said he was considered "armed and dangerous" and warned the public not to approach him.

In a statement Friday, Lt. Ashley Miller told The AP, "The situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved.

She said the investigation is ongoing, the outlet reported.

A neighbor, Tim Penrose, said Hickman lived in the same home where the 53-year-old man was found dead, and described hearing shots but said he didn’t think much of it until police arrived because he lives in a rural area where gunfire is not uncommon, the outlet reported.

Penrose said Hickman frequently harassed him and his wife, but he didn't provide more details, according to the outlet.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that she was monitoring the situation, adding that her "thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the Missaukee community, the outlet reported.

The relationship of the victims remains unclear.

Patch has reached out to state police.

Court Records Show Troubled Past

Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children, according to court records reviewed by The Detroit News.

He was sentenced to 365 days in jail, while several other charges, including felony sexual conduct and assault charges, were dismissed.

The case stemmed from allegations by his ex-wife, Katie Hickman, who filed for divorce in 2023. In a 2025 divorce ruling, a judge described their marriage as marked by "significant dysfunction and mutual toxicity," with both parties accusing the other of domestic violence.

Related: 6 Dead, Including Suspect, In Northern Michigan Mass Shooting: State Police

Katie Hickman alleged she experienced physical and sexual threats and financial control during the marriage. The judge found both sides made credible but inconsistent claims and ultimately resolved their disputes over property and finances.

In an Oct. 11 Facebook post, Hickman denied his ex-wife's allegations, accusing her of lying to gain an advantage in their divorce and praising the judge for relying on evidence.

His Facebook page includes other posts criticizing Katie Hickman, including an allegation that she broke into his apartment and stole his belongings.