Amanda Everitt, 41, and her teenage son, Eric, have been identified as the first two victims in a deadly shooting spree in Michigan that left five people dead, including the gunman, and critically injured Everitt's 13-year-old daughter, Bella.
The gunman, Chad Hickman, 39, also killed a third unidentified person at the Everitt home on LaChance Road in Lake Township on Friday morning before fleeing the scene. Bella Everitt, who was shot four times, including in the arm, managed to call 911 and identify the shooter before being hospitalized in critical condition.
As authorities conducted a manhunt for Hickman, they discovered a fourth deceased victim at another home. They later found Hickman's abandoned vehicle near a wooded area. A K9 unit discovered Hickman's body along with a fifth victim.
David Everitt, Amanda Everitt's father, expressed his grief and praised Bella's bravery in a Facebook post. "This world just lost two beautiful people and one is clinging to life," he wrote, referring to his daughter and grandson. "My daughter Amanda and her two beautiful children were shot in their home yesterday, Amanda and her son Eric went home to be with god and our granddaughter Bella is clinging to life in a Grand Rapids hospital."
He urged parents to teach children compassion and kindness, calling the act "cowardly" and "evil." He referred to Bella as a "hero" for her actions following the shooting.
Michigan State Police have not officially confirmed the victims' identities, and it remains unclear if Everitt and her children were related to Hickman or his ex-wife, Katie.
Hickman's ex-wife, Katie, posted on social media that she and their three children were safe. Divorce proceedings initiated by Katie in 2023 were finalized last year, with court records indicating allegations of domestic abuse on both sides were central to the case.
The motive for the killings remains under investigation. Court records indicate Hickman was convicted in 2024 of misdemeanor fourth-degree child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of children related to a 2010 case. He was also reportedly facing a new civil lawsuit filed at the end of July, though details were not immediately clear.
Authorities have stated that there is no ongoing threat to the public.