Teen boy among 6 dead in Michigan shootings

A teenage boy and four adults were among the six people killed in a series of shootings in Michigan on Friday, authorities announced. The gunman responsible for the attacks was later found deceased in a wooded area near one of his victims. The incident prompted a broad search, but police identified the victims on Saturday, though they did not disclose familial or other relationships between the deceased.

The victims included a 16-year-old boy, a 39-year-old man, a 45-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman, and a 13-year-old girl in critical condition. The 53-year-old and 29-year-old men, who died alongside the gunman, were discovered in separate locations in the woods. All the fatalities resulted from gunshot wounds, according to police.

Chad Hickman, the 39-year-old suspect, had a prior conviction for misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse in 2024 and was sentenced to one year in jail. Charges of felony assault and criminal sexual conduct were subsequently dismissed by the court. Lt. Ashley Miller, a police spokesperson, stated that the ongoing investigation is both heartbreaking for the community and challenging for investigators involved.

Hickman lived in a home in Missaukee County, where he allegedly frequently harassed a local resident and his wife. The area is typically accustomed to gunshots; however, the police only became aware of the extent of the violence after they responded to the initial reports of the incident. Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her condolences to the victims, their families, and the Missaukee community.