13-year-old hero calls police in Michigan shooting
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The gist
A 13-year-old girl shot four times called 911 in a Michigan rampage that left six dead. Her call helped identify the gunman, making her a hero to family and police.
Background
On Friday, a shooting spree in rural Missaukee County, Michigan, left five people dead and a 13-year-old girl critically wounded. The suspected gunman, Chad Hickman, 39, was later found dead in a wooded area alongside one of his victims. The girl, who was shot four times, managed to call 911, which helped authorities identify the suspect. The incident has shaken the small community and added to the national toll of mass shootings.
How it unfolded
- Aug 14, 2026Police responded to reports of a shooting at a home in Lake Township, Missaukee County, around 11:40 a.m., finding three dead and the 13-year-old girl critically wounded.
- Aug 14, 2026A second home was discovered with a 53-year-old man dead, and later a 29-year-old woman and the suspect Chad Hickman were found dead in the woods.
- Aug 15, 2026Police and family confirmed the girl had called 911 despite being shot four times; she was stable by Saturday. The suspect was identified as Chad Hickman, 39.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- State police spokesperson Lt Ashley Miller called the girl a hero and said the community is 'rocked and crushed' and looking for answers.
- Family
- Grandfather David Everitt wrote on Facebook: 'She is a hero,' praising her for calling 911 and identifying the shooter despite her wounds.
Still unverified
The identity of the girl as 'Bella' comes from a Facebook post by a person claiming to be her grandfather; not officially confirmed. Whether Hickman died by suicide was pending autopsy.