Bolanle Fadairo, 38, has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man and the death of a child Tuesday in Houston.
Fadairo is charged with two counts of murder and one count of tampering with evidence and is being held at the Harris County Jail.
According to the Houston Police Department, members of HPD’s Southwest Crime Suppression Team took Fadairo into custody at 4 a.m. Sept. 21 without further incident in the 5500 block of El Camino Del Rey Street.
The incident reportedly started about 1:45 p.m. Sept. 20 at 5501 El Camino Del Rey Street and the death of a child found about 7:10 p.m. at 5900 Elm Street.
Investigators learned the victim met Fadairo at the location and the two spoke briefly before Fadairo shot the victim.
The victim fled a short distance and collapsed in the parking lot. Fadairo entered the victim’s vehicle, a black Chevrolet Traverse with paper plates, and fled the scene, police said.
About 6:35 p.m., a woman called HPD to report her husband and 2-year-old son missing.
Officers located the stolen Traverse, shattered the vehicle’s window and found the 2-year-old child unresponsive inside.
Officers and Houston Fire Department paramedics immediately rendered first aid however the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators say Fadairo admitted that he had known Essien for about 30 years, and even used the victim's home address to receive mail, according to court video.
"(Fadairo) stated the argument started from (Essien) owing him money," court documents read. Fadairo was employed by Essien.
On the day of the shooting, Fadairo took off in Essien's SUV with the victim's 2-year-old son still in a car seat. The SUV was later found abandoned with the child inside, who was found unresponsive.
Charging documents said the car was locked, and the windows were rolled up as outdoor temperatures reached 93 degrees.
Fadairo allegedly tried to destroy some text messages, records say.
"(Fadairo) admitted he had incriminating texts between him and the decedent, detailing disagreement about money, and deleted them after he killed the decedent,".