Full Breakdown
Missaukee County Mass Shooting Leaves Six Dead, Including Suspect
8/16/2026, 9:29:00 PM
Core Event
Michigan State Police (MSP) were dispatched to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township shortly after 11:40 a.m. on Friday after a shooting report. Troopers entered to find three people dead and a 13-year-old girl critically wounded; she was later taken to a hospital. A subsequent search uncovered a fourth body at a separate residence and, after locating the suspect’s vehicle in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township, officers found Chad Hickman dead alongside another victim. In total, six people died—including Hickman—and one person remains in critical condition.
Background on the Suspect
Chad Hickman, 39, of the Lake City area, had a documented criminal record. Court filings show a 2024 conviction for misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children; more serious charges from an earlier 2010 case were dismissed. Divorce proceedings in 2023–2025 revealed mutual allegations of domestic violence. Judge Melissa Ransom described the marriage as marked by “significant dysfunction and mutual toxicity,” citing testimony that the relationship involved “control, coercion, and fear.” No motive for the Friday killings has been released.
Data & Statistics
- Victims identified by MSP:
- 45-year-old male (deceased)
- 40-year-old female (deceased)
- 16-year-old male (deceased)
- 13-year-old female (survivor, now stable)
- 53-year-old male (deceased)
- 29-year-old female (deceased)
- Suspect: Chad Hickman, 39, deceased.
These six deaths occurred across three locations within a few miles of each other in rural Missaukee County.
Official Statements & Responses
MSP Lt. She affirmed that there is no longer any threat to the public and reiterated the department’s commitment to a thorough investigation with ongoing updates. State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, offered condolences and prayers for the families and the injured survivor. Jennings Community Church leaders, Pastor Ron Sischo and his wife Pam Sischo, announced grief-counseling services and a vigil, emphasizing the community’s need for support and remembrance.
Community Impact
In the wake of the shootings, the church erected a tent for counseling, and local residents expressed shock that such violence could occur in their tranquil, forest-surrounded area. Plans are underway to hold a Sunday vigil and to raise funds for the victims’ families, acknowledging the forthcoming funerals and financial needs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available,” — Police Lt. Ashley Miller
- “The community was obviously terrorized and traumatized by the situation,” — Pam Sischo
- “So many in this community were intimately connected or related to the victims.” — Ron Sischo
- “We know this will evolve into funerals and a financial need,” — Pam Sischo
- “Amanda was bright, brilliant, caring and an incredibly loving mother,” — Kimberly West Moffit
These statements capture the official response, the community’s trauma, and personal remembrances of the victims.
