Missaukee County Grieves Multiple Lives Lost in a Friday Shooting Near LaChance and Kelly Roads

 A quiet part of northern Michigan became the center of a deadly investigation Friday, August 14, when a series of shootings in Missaukee County left six people dead, including the suspected gunman. The violence unfolded across multiple locations and also left another person critically injured. For residents, the day brought fear, uncertainty, and the painful reality of several lives lost within hours of one another.

Michigan State Police said troopers responded shortly before noon to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township after receiving a report that someone had been shot. At the residence, officers found three people dead and another person critically wounded; that survivor was taken to a hospital for treatment. Investigators said the suspected shooter, 39-year-old Chad Hickman, had already fled when police arrived, prompting a large-scale search throughout the surrounding area.

The emergency response quickly expanded as law enforcement worked to locate Hickman, whom authorities described as armed and dangerous during the search. State police deployed additional resources, including emergency support personnel, aviation assistance, and canine units, while residents were urged to avoid areas connected to the investigation. The heightened response reflected the uncertainty facing officers as they worked to determine whether the suspect remained a threat. Officers also focused on protecting the public while the search moved through the county.

As the search continued, investigators discovered a fourth deceased person at a separate home in Missaukee County, adding another grim development to an already unfolding tragedy. Hickman’s vehicle was later located in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township. Officers then found Hickman and another deceased individual nearby, bringing the number of deaths to six, including the suspected gunman. The discovery deepened the uncertainty surrounding the case.

Authorities have not publicly established a motive for the shootings, and investigators continue examining what happened at each location. Michigan State Police said evidence would be processed across the scenes and that the investigation would continue as officers worked through the night. The circumstances connecting the victims, locations, and suspect remain an important part of the inquiry, and officials have cautioned that additional information could change as facts are confirmed. Investigators have not said what may have triggered the violence or how the victims were connected.

The identities of the five victims were not immediately released while police worked to notify their families, according to authorities. Individual details about the people killed, including relationships to one another and their personal histories, remained limited in the earliest public updates. One other person was hospitalized in critical condition, adding another layer of concern for relatives and friends waiting for news about their loved one. Families were therefore awaiting official notification before identities could be confirmed publicly as officials worked.

For Missaukee County, the violence has created a profound sense of grief in a rural community suddenly confronted with multiple crime scenes and an intensive police operation. Residents were asked to stay away from the affected areas while investigators secured evidence and reconstructed the sequence of events. Michigan State Police Lt. Ashley Miller described the situation as heartbreaking and difficult for investigators, while pledging a thorough examination of what occurred and continued updates as the investigation progresses as the inquiry continues.

The investigation remains active, and officials are expected to release more information as evidence is reviewed and families are notified. For now, the confirmed facts tell a story of lives lost, a survivor fighting for recovery, and a community left searching for answers. Missaukee County will remember those lost while investigators continue working to explain how the tragedy unfolded.