Houston police identifies man who allegedly shot 'friend' dead, left 2-yr-old son to die inside heated car
HOUSTON, TEXAS: Houston Police have arrested Bolanle Fadairo, 38, for allegedly killing his friend Michael Essien and his two-year-old son. The accused had an argument, which turned ugly and the man fired multiple shots at the victim in front of his toddler, Micah. After the killing, Fadairo fled with Essien’s SUV from the scene, while the young one was still in the backseat.
He was later found by officers and believed to have died due to "heat exhaustion," with the outside temperature hitting 93F. In the investigation, it was found that Fadairo had planned a meeting with Essien, and had deleted text messages between the two before his arrest. However, the police are yet to establish the reason behind their meeting.
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Essien was shot several times by Fadairo at El Camino Del Rey Street, on Tuesday, September 20, a few hours after his wife reported him missing at around 6.40 pm. Essien is survived by his wife and two other children. He also became father to a baby girl, just a week ago.
His sister Jessie, told ABC that her nephew had just learned to say her name, and referred her brother to as "peaceful man." “All I want is my brother and my 2-year-old who just learned how to say 'Auntie Jessie'. He called Auntie Jessie in the church Sunday. He ran and said, ‘Hi, Auntie Jessie’”.
On Essien’s young family, she further said, “Michael has a 5-year-old son and a 1-week-old baby, 1-week old. Michael has a wife. Lord Jesus, all I need is my brother. Anybody that knows my brother knows Michael is a peaceful man. Michael never argued with anyone. Michael takes the shirt off his body and gives to other people to put on. Michael would give the last dime he has to other people.”
The killer had met Essien as per their planned location, and after the pair broke into an argument, Fadairo shot him dead. The victim tried to flee post-shooting but collapsed after a short distance in the parking lot. The shooter immediately took off in Essien’s SUV with his son Micah in the car.
Larry Satterwhite, Houston Police Executive Assistant Chief, told the press, “We never knew about the child until she called. Sadly, it was too late. The child had passed in the car. At this time, we don't know why or how or what the cause of death will be. It could be something like heat exhaustion, we just don't know.”