The short version
- A thirteen-year-old survivor contacted authorities after being shot four times, aiding police in identifying the suspect before he was found dead.
- Investigators confirmed six fatalities including the shooter across three locations in Missaukee County, with victims ranging from a teenager to adults.
- Court records indicate the suspected gunman had a recent conviction for child abuse stemming from a divorce proceeding involving his ex-wife.
A violent episode in rural Michigan concluded with six deaths and one survivor after a thirteen-year-old girl managed to call emergency services despite sustaining four gunshot wounds. The incident, which unfolded across three separate locations in Missaukee County, has left the local community grappling with shock and unanswered questions about the motive behind the attacks. State police officials confirmed that the teenager’s actions were instrumental in allowing investigators to identify the suspected shooter quickly, even though he had fled the initial scene before law enforcement arrived.
The sequence of events began at a residence where police discovered the bodies of a sixteen-year-old boy, a forty-five-year-old man, and a forty-year-old woman. The thirteen-year-old girl was found at this same location in critical condition. According to state police spokesperson Lt. Ashley Miller, the girl dialed 911 to report that she had been shot. Her call provided crucial information that helped narrow the investigation before the suspect could evade capture further. First responders transported her to a hospital, where her condition improved from critical to stable by Saturday.
The rampage continued as the suspected gunman moved to other sites. A second home yielded the body of a fifty-three-year-old victim. The final scene was discovered in a wooded area, where police found the bodies of a twenty-nine-year-old woman and the suspect himself lying next to each other. Authorities launched a manhunt after the initial calls but located the suspect’s remains before he could flee the county. All victims died from gunshot wounds, confirming the lethal nature of the weapons used throughout the spree.
Chad Hickman, thirty-nine, was identified as the suspected shooter. Investigators have not released detailed information regarding his relationship to the victims, though family members have provided some context through social media posts. David Everitt, the father of one of the deceased women and grandfather to a teenage victim, stated that Amanda Everitt, forty, and her son Eric, sixteen, were among those killed. He described the loss as devastating for the family and expressed gratitude for the survival of his granddaughter, who he noted identified the shooter despite her injuries.
The background of the suspect reveals prior legal troubles that may offer clues to the violence. Court records show that Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse. This conviction resulted in a one-year prison sentence and stemmed from complaints filed by his ex-wife, Katie, who initiated divorce proceedings in September 2023. While police have not explicitly linked these past events to the current shooting spree, the timeline suggests a period of personal turmoil for the suspect leading up to the attacks.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the difficulty of determining the exact motive at this stage. Lt. Miller noted that the community is seeking answers and understanding regarding why such violence occurred. An autopsy was pending to determine whether Hickman died by suicide or other means after being found in the woods. The lack of immediate clarity on the shooter’s intent has added to the confusion and grief felt by residents of Missaukee County, who are now dealing with the aftermath of a tragedy that claimed multiple lives in a short span.
This incident contributes to a broader national trend of mass violence involving firearms. Data from the Gun Violence Archive indicates that at least fifteen mass murders had occurred in the United States as of Sunday, defining such events as those where four or more victims are killed. The majority of these cases involve guns, which has reignited discussions about federal gun control measures. However, legislative efforts to enact stricter restrictions have faced significant hurdles in Congress over recent years, leaving many communities vulnerable to similar tragedies.
As investigations continue, police have not released the names of all victims or detailed relationships between the shooter and those he killed. The focus remains on supporting the survivors and families affected by the loss. The thirteen-year-old girl’s resilience has been highlighted by relatives and officials alike, with some describing her as a hero for her actions under extreme duress. Her survival stands in stark contrast to the fatal outcomes for the others involved, marking a tragic chapter in the history of this small Michigan community.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗‘She is a hero’: 13-year-old survivor of Michigan shooting spree called police
