Houston police say the 38-year-old man questioned this morning was charged in connection with the deaths of Michael Essien and his son Micah.
HOUSTON — Houston police say the person of interest they questioned this morning about the deaths of a father and his 2-year-old son has now been charged in the case.
HPD hasn’t released the man’s name yet but they say the 38-year-old is charged with murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the deaths of 38-year-old Michael Essien and his son Micah. He was taken into custody this morning.
Meanwhile, the victims’ heartbroken family members are looking for answers.
“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, told us Wednesday. “My brother has always been a peaceful man. I need my brother back.”
Essien and his wife recently welcomed another baby and they also have an older son. Family members say Essien attended Hastings High School, attended college, and worked at a security company.
The chain of events unfolded Tuesday afternoon when police responded to a shooting on El Camino Del Rey Street near Chimney Rock Road in the Gulfton area.
Houston police said Essien met up with the suspect for unknown reasons and they got into an argument that ended in gunfire. Essien was dead when officers arrived and his SUV was gone.
Police had no idea the victim’s son was in the SUV until hours later when Essien’s wife called to report her husband and child were missing. Based on the information she gave them, they realized her husband was the man who had been shot.
Officers located the abandoned SUV about half an hour later on Elm Street near Renwick Drive. The little boy was found unresponsive in the backseat.
Police said officers broke the glass to get to the child and tried to revive him, but it was too late. The cause of death will be determined by an autopsy, but officials said it could be heat exhaustion.
Police later released surveillance video of a man believed to be the shooter. The slim Black male was wearing a white shirt with black shorts and a distinctive black Raiders cap. He appeared to have long facial hair around the chin area.
Houston police are asking anyone with information on the suspect or these two incidents to call their homicide division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-8477.