The ex-wife of Chad Hickman, 39, and their three children are safe following a shooting incident that resulted in five deaths and one critically injured individual before Hickman apparently took his own life. Michigan State Police responded Friday morning to reports of a shooting at a home on LaChance Road in Lake Township, where they discovered three deceased victims and a fourth victim critically injured.
As authorities searched for Hickman, who was considered armed and dangerous, they located a fourth deceased victim in a separate residence. Hickman's vehicle was later found abandoned near Whitlock Lake. A K9 unit discovered Hickman's body alongside a fifth deceased victim in the wooded area. The identities of the victims and their relationship to Hickman are still being determined.
Hickman's ex-wife, identified as Katie, posted on social media that she and their children were safe and expressed gratitude for the support from friends and family. Court records obtained by the Detroit News indicate that Katie initiated divorce proceedings in 2023, and the divorce was finalized last year. The judge presiding over the case noted allegations of domestic abuse from both parties, describing the relationship as "marked by significant dysfunction and mutual toxicity."
During the divorce proceedings, Katie Hickman alleged that her marriage to Chad was characterized by control, coercion, and fear, stating she lacked financial independence and faced threats of violence. The divorce proceedings also involved disputes over property and finances. Hickman had publicly accused his ex-wife of lying and attempting to take their assets during the divorce. His daughter, however, contradicted these claims, posting on Facebook that her father had been abusive toward her, her mother, and her siblings.
Court records also show Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children in connection with a 2010 case. He was sentenced to one year in jail. He was also reportedly facing a new civil lawsuit filed in late July, though details of this case remain unclear.
The motive for Friday's killings is still under investigation, but authorities have stated there is no ongoing threat to the public. State Representative Ken Borton and Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson offered condolences to the victims' families and the community. Governor Gretchen Whitmer stated she was briefed on the situation and was monitoring it.