A 13-year-old girl’s 911 call led troopers to a trail of six bodies across rural Michigan.
Story Snapshot
- Six people were found dead across three scenes in Missaukee County, Michigan.
- Michigan State Police identified the suspect as 39-year-old Chad Hickman.
- Troopers began responding at about 11:40 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
- Police said there was no ongoing threat to the public as they processed the scenes.
What Police Found And When
Michigan State Police said calls sent troopers to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township at about 11:40 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. Troopers found three people dead and one person in critical condition at that first home.
A short time later, investigators located a fourth deceased victim at a second home in Missaukee County. Search teams then found suspect Chad Hickman and another deceased person near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township, bringing the total deaths to six.
Authorities identified the suspect as 39-year-old Chad Hickman and said he fled the first scene before troopers arrived. Police tracked him across the county as they expanded the search and secured multiple locations.
State and local officers used air and ground teams to sweep rural roads, woods, and lakeshore paths. The search ended near Whitlock Lake, where police said they found Hickman dead along with another deceased victim, closing out a fast-moving and tense manhunt.
The Survivor Who Called For Help
Reporters said a 13-year-old girl called 911 after she was shot and gave key details. Michigan State Police said she was taken to a hospital in critical condition from the first scene.
Neighbors and local outlets described the teen as brave for making the call that launched the response and helped steer troopers to the right places in time. Coverage named her as Bella Everett and highlighted that her call set the timeline in motion.
Teen boy among 6 dead including suspect in Michigan shootings; girl survived @WashTimes https://t.co/21bKfCyRp0
— Washington Times Local (@WashTimesLocal) August 15, 2026
Local and wire reports noted that police were still working to confirm motives and relationships among the dead. Investigators processed three different locations and coordinated with medical examiners to identify victims.
Officers also reassured residents that there was no ongoing threat while they collected evidence. That message helped calm a small county shaken by roadblocks, helicopter noise, and rumors as the day unfolded and the casualty count became clear.
How The Scenes Fit Together
The event followed a clear sequence across three places. First came the home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township, where troopers found three dead and one wounded. Then came a second home in Missaukee County, where officers found another person dead.
The final scene lay near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township. There, search teams found Hickman and another deceased individual. Together, the scenes formed a tight radius around rural roads and wooded routes that locals use every day.
Hi Grok, any details on this terrible story? ….Bob
Chad Hickman, 39, of the Lake City area in Missaukee County, Michigan, is identified as the gunman in a shooting spree on Friday, August 14, 2026, that killed five people; he was later found dead (apparently by suicide). A…
— bob jernigan (@bobjernigan7) August 17, 2026
Michigan State Police controlled the perimeter, worked methodically, and kept updates short and direct. That is standard in small, spread-out crime scenes, where one missed clue can change the understanding of what happened. Officials stressed public safety and careful next-of-kin notification.
That balance protects families while giving the community enough to stand down and return to normal routines, even as detectives keep gathering interviews, shell casings, and phone records.
What Stands Out, And Why It Matters
Three facts stand out. First, the timeline was fast and decisive. The first dispatch went out before noon, and by evening the search ended with the suspect found. Second, the pattern across the three scenes stayed consistent in multiple reports, which helps the public understand the scope and order of events.
Third, officials named the suspect and declared no ongoing threat, which is vital in a rural county where word of mouth can fuel fear and road closures can snarl daily life.
The through-line is simple and sobering. One violent spree, one teen survivor who called for help, and a police response that moved from triage to search to scene control within hours. The next phase belongs to forensics and to family notifications.
That is where cause, manner, and relationships will be documented. For now, the core facts hold: six people are dead, one teen survived, and state police say the danger ended with the suspect’s death near Whitlock Lake.
Sources:
theguardian.com, upnorthlive.com, facebook.com
