Six people were killed and a 13-year-old girl was wounded after a rural Michigan shooting that moved across three scenes in Missaukee County.
Story Snapshot
- Michigan State Police reported six dead, including the suspect, and one wounded.
- Troopers responded around 11:40 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, 2026.
- Investigators named 39-year-old Chad Hickman as the suspect.
- Police said there was no ongoing threat to the public as scenes were processed.
A rapid chain of attacks across quiet backroads
Michigan State Police said the first call came at about 11:40 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. Troopers went to a home on South LaChance Road in Lake Township after a report of a shooting. They found three people dead and a 13-year-old girl in critical condition.
She called 911 after being shot. Crews rushed her to a hospital. The suspect, 39-year-old Chad Hickman, had left before troopers arrived, and a search began across the county.
Detectives soon reached a second home in Missaukee County. They found another person dead there, which raised the confirmed toll to four. The search then pushed toward a wooded area near Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township.
Officers found Hickman there and another person who was dead. That discovery brought the total to six deaths, including the suspect. Police said they were processing three scenes and urged patience as they worked.
The suspect and the survivor at the center
Authorities identified the suspect as Hickman, a 39-year-old man tied to the Lake City area. Reporters noted prior run-ins with the law, but police did not release a motive that day.
The wounded survivor, a 13-year-old girl named in some reports as Bella Everett, called 911 after being shot and helped direct help to the first scene. Officials described her condition as critical soon after the attack. Police focused public messages on safety, not speculation.
Teen boy among 6 dead including suspect in Michigan shootings; girl survived @WashTimes https://t.co/21bKfCyRp0
— Washington Times Local (@WashTimesLocal) August 15, 2026
Michigan State Police stressed there was no ongoing threat to the public as teams searched, secured, and examined each site. That message fit the priorities in a small county, where fear can spread fast and roads are long.
Investigators said they were still piecing together the ties among the victims and the suspect. Outlets covering the case echoed that caution and avoided claiming a clear motive before the evidence supported it.
Geography, timing, and law enforcement response
The locations formed a tight rural triangle: a home on South LaChance Road, a second residence in the county, and a wooded area near Whitlock Lake. Troopers, deputies, and local responders moved between dirt drives and forest tracks while crime scene teams documented evidence.
The timeline kept its shape across reports: first scene with three dead and one wounded, second scene with one dead, final search area with Hickman and one more deceased person. That sequence held through the day’s updates.
41-year-old Amanda Everitt and her 16-year-old son, Eric Everitt were killed at their home in Friday’s shooting spree across Missaukee County, Michigan.
Amanda’s 13-year-old daughter remains hospitalized in critical condition after reportedly being shot four times. pic.twitter.com/c5M8mE5Kvw
— Newtown Action Alliance ❌👑 (@NewtownAction) August 16, 2026
Police communications focused on two needs at once: stopping further harm and giving clear, simple facts. That approach serves public safety and respects next-of-kin notifications. It also avoids rumor loops that often start online in fast-moving cases.
The measured cadence of updates—casualty count, suspect identity, search area, public-safety note—matched common practice for major cases in spread-out rural regions where help can be miles away and terrain slows every task.
What this event says about small-town risk and resilience
Rural communities often feel safe by default, but distance creates its own risk. Neighbors may not hear shots. Deputies may need long drives to reach calls. That gap makes personal awareness and fast, clear 911 reports vital.
The 13-year-old’s call likely saved time when time mattered most. Local churches, schools, and civic groups will now carry the hard work of recovery—vigils, meals, rides, and shared watchfulness—as investigators finish their job.
Sources:
theguardian.com, upnorthlive.com, youtube.com, detroitnews.com, facebook.com
