The Michigan State Police are leading an investigation after six people were found dead in Northern Lower Michigan, with the suspect among the deceased and multiple agencies assisting in a wide search and recovery operation.
State police say officers answered a call to a home in Lake Township on Friday at 11:40 AM reporting a gunshot wound, and troopers who arrived on scene discovered three people dead and a fourth person suffering critical injuries that were immediately life-threatening.
Authorities identified the suspect as 39-year-old Chad Hickman, and they say he fled the scene before he was located; he was later found dead in the woods near his vehicle, and a separate residence in Missaukee County contained the body of another person connected to the incident.
Law enforcement has withheld the ages and genders of the victims until next-of-kin can be notified, and investigators emphasized the need to complete those notifications respectfully as part of the ongoing process.
“This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved,” said Lt. Ashley Miller, and investigators made it clear they are continuing work at the scene while piecing together timelines, movements, and possible motives as part of a thorough criminal inquiry.
The response involved a long list of units that supported the search and investigation, including the MSP Aviation Unit, the Emergency Support Team, the Canine Unit, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, the Missaukee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Missaukee County Road Commission, all of which played roles ranging from aerial searches to ground tracking and evidence preservation.
Officials said the variety of agencies helped cover difficult terrain and coordinate resources efficiently, with aerial assets providing wide-area observation and ground teams following leads through wooded areas and secondary properties to ensure no victim or piece of evidence was overlooked.
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Local residents described the event as a devastating blow to small communities in Northern Lower Michigan, where news of multiple fatalities quickly spread and where neighbors and local leaders began organizing to check on families, offer practical help, and work with law enforcement as investigators continued their duties.
As the investigation continues, state police indicated they will release additional information when appropriate, stressing that many steps remain: interviews with witnesses, forensic work on recovered evidence, and careful scene processing that aims to answer who was involved and why, while ensuring accuracy before information is made public.
Officials asked anyone with information about the incident to contact authorities directly through official channels, and they noted that community safety and transparency remain priorities as investigators work to complete warrants, analyze findings, and notify family members in a sensitive and methodical way.
