Five killed in Michigan shooting as suspect found …
MICHIGAN: Five people were killed in a shooting in northern Michigan on Friday, while a suspected gunman was later found dead after police launched a manhunt, authorities said.
Michigan State Police said troopers were dispatched at around 11:40am to a home in Missaukee County following reports of gunfire. Officers arriving at the scene discovered three people dead and a fourth victim seriously wounded.
The injured person was taken to hospital and remained in critical condition, police said.
Investigators identified the suspected shooter as 39-year-old Chad Hickman, who allegedly fled the area before officers arrived. His disappearance triggered an extensive search across the surrounding area as law enforcement teams worked to locate him.
During the manhunt, investigators discovered another deceased victim at a second residence, bringing the reported death toll to five.
Police later found Hickman’s vehicle near a wooded area close to Whitlock Lake. When officers searched the area, they found Hickman and another person dead, according to the state police statement.
Authorities have not yet provided details about how Hickman or the other person died, and the circumstances surrounding the additional death remain under investigation.
“This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved,” Lieutenant Ashley Miller said in a statement cited by police.
Police have withheld the names, ages and genders of the victims while officials work to notify their next of kin.
The incident has left the northern Michigan community shaken as investigators continue examining the shooting, the second residence and the circumstances that led to the suspect’s death. Authorities are expected to release further information as the investigation progresses.
