Five People Killed and Suspect Dead in Michigan Shootings

Five people were killed and a suspect is dead after a series of killings at two homes and a wooded area in Michigan on Friday, according to law enforcement officials.

Michigan State Police responded to reports of a shooting at a home in Missaukee County, about 169 miles (272 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, where they found three people dead and another person wounded, police said in a statement. The injured person was taken to a hospital.

Police said the suspect, 39-year-old Chad Hickman, fled the scene before officers arrived. As authorities searched for him, they found a fourth person dead at another home, officials said.

Law enforcement later found Hickman’s vehicle in a wooded area near Whitlock Lake, leading them to his body and another deceased person, according to police.

Police originally said they were investigating a shooting but have not released information on how each person died, nor whether they had any relation to one another.

"Not only is this difficult for our investigators and our troopers, but it's very hard for this community. You know, this type of loss is tragic," Lt. Ashley Miller said in a statement. "And we're going to conduct a thorough investigation and we want to make sure to keep our community members up to date on our current situation and what we're discovering throughout this process."

Police are investigating the shooting and have asked the public to avoid the area.

The names and ages of the people killed are not being released until their families have been notified, according to police.