Full Breakdown
Shooting Spree Claims Six Lives in Missaukee County, Michigan
8/17/2026, 12:04:18 AM
Core Event
On Friday, a 39-year-old man identified as Chad Hickman opened fire at a residence on South LaChance Road in Lake Township, killing three adults and a teenage boy. A 13-year-old girl was shot multiple times but survived after calling 911. Hickman fled the scene before troopers arrived, prompting a large-scale search that uncovered a fourth victim at a second home in Missaukee County and Hickman’s body alongside a 29-year-old woman in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township. The incident left six people dead, including the suspect, and one person critically injured but now listed as stable.
Background & Context
Court records show Hickman had a history of violent and abusive behavior. In 2024 he pleaded guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor stemming from a 2010 incident; he received a one-year county-jail sentence. More serious felony charges—including assault with intent to cause great bodily harm and two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct—were later dismissed. His divorce from Katie Hickman was marked by mutual accusations of domestic violence, which a judge described as “uncontested” and central to the marital dispute.
Data & Statistics
- Total deaths: six (five victims + suspect).
- Victims killed at the first scene: a 45-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman, a 16-year-old boy, and the 29-year-old woman later found in the woods.
- Additional victim: a 53-year-old man discovered at the second residence.
- Survivor: a 13-year-old girl, shot four times, now in stable condition.
- Locations involved: three sites – the South LaChance Road home, a second home several miles away, and a wooded area near Whitlock Lake.
Official Statements & Responses
Lt. Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed sympathy for the victims, their families, and the Missaukee community, noting she is monitoring the situation. Michigan State Police (MSP) also emphasized that there is no ongoing public threat and that patrols continue while investigators process the multiple crime scenes.
On-the-Ground Reports
Tim Penrose, a neighbor who previously rented from Hickman, described the shooter as “extremely aggressive” and recounted frequent harassment of his household after Hickman’s release from jail and his divorce. Penrose said he heard the initial gunshots but did not recognize the danger until police arrived, noting that gunfire is a common background sound in the rural area.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Authorities have not released the names or full relationships of the victims, and MSP has not confirmed whether Hickman’s sister was among those killed, a claim made by Penrose. The exact motive remains unknown, with investigators still examining possible connections between the shooter and the victims. Details about the manner of Hickman’s death—whether suicide or other cause—are pending an autopsy.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved,” — Lt. Ashley Miller, MSP spokesperson
- “We were able to identify him right away,” — Lt. Ashley Miller, MSP spokesperson
- “We’ve never had [violence] to this level,” — Lake Township Supervisor Rob
- “He’s harassed me and my wife constantly since we’ve lived here,” — Timothy Penrose
