Police in Houston have identified the carjacker who shot and killed a buddy before stealing his vehicle and leaving the victim’s infant inside to perish in the stifling heat.
The 38-year-old Bolanle Fadairo is accused of killing Michael Essien and his 2-year-old son on September 20 in Houston, Texas.
After arguing with Fadairo, Essien, 38, was shot dead in front of his small son, and the shooter fled in the SUV that had been used to kill Essien.
Officers discovered the boy in the backseat hours later; they suspect he died of heat exhaustion as 93°F temperatures were present at the time.
After Essien was shot numerous times by Fadairo at 1:45 pm at El Camino Del Rey, his wife reported that her husband and son were missing at around 6.40 pm.
The father of three leaves behind his wife, two additional kids, and a newborn who was born only a week ago.
Fadairo has been charged with two charges of murder and tampering with evidence after police raided his flat early on Wednesday morning.
The toddler’s postmortem report has not yet been finished, but according to the detectives, he passed away from heat exhaustion after being in the car since around 2 o’clock.
Officers tried to save the boy by breaking the SUV’s glass, but by the time an ambulance arrived, he had already been declared dead.
Essien’s sister, Jessie, described her brother as a “calm man” while telling ABC that her nephew had just learned how to say her name.
She said: ‘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.
‘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.’