Houston police say the 38-year-old man questioned this morning was charged in reference to the deaths of Michael Essien and his son Micah.
HOUSTON — Houston police say the person of interest they questioned this morning in regards to the deaths of a father and his 2-year-old son has now been charged within the case.
HPD hasn’t launched the person’s title but however they are saying the 38-year-old is charged with homicide and tampering with proof in reference to the deaths of 38-year-old Michael Essien and his son Micah. He was taken into custody this morning at an condominium close to the unique crime scene.
Meanwhile, the victims’ heartbroken family members are searching for solutions.
“Tell Houston, tell the whole world that I want my nephew back. He’s only 2 years old. He does not know how to hurt a fly,” Jessie Okon, the toddler’s aunt, informed us Wednesday. “My brother has always been a peaceful man. I need my brother back.”
Micah’s cousin mentioned he was a happy-go-lucky little boy.
“Micah is all the time cheerful, desires to be round somebody – at church, all the time comfortable,” Etimbuk Isaiah mentioned.
Essien and his spouse lately welcomed one other child and so they even have an older son.
“She’s hanging on is all I can say. It’s a tough factor to course of proper now and so tragic as a result of no person wakes up planning to die,” Etimbuk Isaiah, a cousin, said. “And simply taking it at some point at a time, that’s all I can say.”
Family members say Essien attended Hastings High School, attended faculty as an athlete, and labored at a safety firm. He was sporting his safety guard uniform when he was killed.
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What occurred
The chain of occasions unfolded Tuesday afternoon when police responded to a capturing on El Camino Del Rey Street near Chimney Rock Road within the Gulfton space.
Houston police mentioned Essien met up with the suspect for unknown causes and so they obtained into an argument that led to gunfire. Essien was useless when officers arrived and his SUV was gone.
Sources informed KHOU 11 the 2 knew one another and have been each safety guards.
“I actually noticed him yesterday,” said Aaliyah Leday, who lives at the apartments where the suspect was arrested. “He was just running to me about how somebody owed him some money and he was going to do something. I didn’t know what he was going to do.”
Sources additionally us the suspect claimed Essien owed him cash.
RELATED: Man charged with homicide after 2-year-old discovered useless in stolen SUV after his dad was shot and killed
Police had no concept the sufferer’s son was within the SUV till hours later when Essien’s spouse known as to report her husband and youngster have been lacking. Based on the information she gave them, they realized her husband was the person who had been shot.
Officers situated the deserted SUV about half an hour in a while Elm Street near Renwick Drive. The little boy was discovered unresponsive within the backseat.
Police mentioned officers broke the glass to get to the kid and tried to revive him, but it surely was too late. The trigger of dying can be decided by an post-mortem, however officers mentioned it might be warmth exhaustion.
Neighbors mentioned they doubtless handed the SUV parked on the road however had no concept a toddler was inside. There are nonetheless questions on whether or not the suspect knew the kid was within the automobile.
“I feel so bad, we could have done something, I know we could have,” one neighbor mentioned.
HPD later launched surveillance video of a person believed to be the shooter at a retailer close to the capturing scene. The slim Black male was sporting a white shirt with black shorts and a particular black Raiders cap. He appeared to have lengthy facial hair across the chin space.
Police tracked him down early Wednesday at an condominium complicated close to the place Michael Essien was shot to dying.
Houston police are asking anybody with information on the suspect or these two incidents to name their murder division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.
story by The Texas Tribune Source link