On a Father's Day evening in Detroit, what began as a celebratory dinner for Phillip Wade II and his son ended in a tragic and violent confrontation that claimed the 39-year-old's life. On Sunday, June 20, 2010, upon returning to their home on the 4000 block of Bishop Street, they interrupted a burglary in progress. This unexpected homecoming set off a chaotic series of events that would leave a family shattered and a community searching for answers.
The male victim was a fireman at American Axle.
As they approached their residence, Wade and his son noticed movement inside, a clear sign that something was amiss. They wisely chose not to enter and immediately contacted the police. While waiting for law enforcement to arrive, two of the intruders, described as young Black males between the ages of 18 and 20, leaped from a window and fled the scene. Wade and his brother, who was also present, gave chase but were unable to catch them.
Returning to the house, they discovered a third suspect was still inside, located in an upstairs bedroom. In a desperate attempt to escape, this individual also jumped from a window. Wade confronted this suspect in the front of the home. During the ensuing struggle, the suspect produced a knife and fatally stabbed Wade. In the altercation, the 18-year-old suspect was also wounded and later succumbed to his injuries.
In the wake of the brutal slaying, the Detroit Police Department and Crime Stoppers of Michigan launched an investigation and appealed to the public for assistance in identifying and locating the two remaining suspects who had fled the scene. A cash reward was offered for any information that would lead to their arrests. Despite these efforts, the case has grown cold over the years. The two individuals who escaped from the Bishop Street home have never been publicly identified or apprehended, and the murder of Phillip Wade II remains an unsolved crime, a painful open wound for his family and friends who continue to await justice.
