Charles Dade, 51, was killed in front of his son while washing a car in South Dairy Ashford and Richmond

Charles Dade, 51, had just picked up his car from the mechanic, according to his cousin Darren Crumity.

Dade and his son were walking to the South Dairy Ashford and Richmond car wash around 9:30pm when two men wearing ski masks ambushed them.

“One put the gun to my cousin’s head and the other got behind my other cousin,” Crumity said.

Dade’s son, in his 20s, escaped from one of the suspects.

“As he put the gun to his head, he went with his head like that and ran for his life,” Crumity said. “The guy shot him in the leg.”

After Dade’s son ran away, both men turned on him.

“He said he turned around and saw the guy standing behind his father, shot his father from behind, and the guy standing in front shot him,” Crumity said. “They shot him at the same time, and then they killed him.”

According to Dade’s family, he owns a Montessori school down the road, so he used to go to the car wash a lot.

“He was a business owner. He loved people,” Crumity said. “I will always remember that. He loved everyone he came in contact with.”

Crumity believes Dade and his son were targeted because of their beautiful clothes and jewelry. They went to the corner store by the car wash to get some snacks beforehand.

“He came out of the store and a moment later the guy came from behind and said give it up,” Crumity said.

Crime in the area is high, according to a system the Houston Police Department uses to share data.

Since January, ABC13 has tracked ten aggravated assaults, three robberies and five robberies within a half-mile of the murder.

“I wonder you can’t even just wash your car. Is Houston still safe?” asked Crumi.

Dade leaves behind a wife and several children. You have many questions about Dade’s killer and hope the community can help find answers.

“She’s just trying to wonder why you’d kill my husband if you’re trying to rob someone, rob him. Why do you have to kill him? It’s just devastating for them,” Crumity said.

If you have any information regarding the incident, please contact HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

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