ATASCOCITA, Texas – Devon Wade, 28, had a life full of promise. His friends said he wanted to help others and change their lives. He wanted children of incarcerated parents to know they can succeed. But his life was cut short Sunday, leaving friends and family with the unanswered question of why?
"Everybody wants to know why would you do that? He never did anything bad to warrant you to take his life," said Lavoshea Hendry, a friend and fellow No More Victims member.
Hendry joined No More Victims in 2005, a year after Wade.
One of the group's missions is to mentor children of incarcerated parents so they can overcome obstacles, violence and poverty, and reach their full potential. Just like Wade had.
Wade was a shining example of success. When Channel 2 profiled him this past spring, he was an honors graduate of Louisiana State University, a Harry S. Truman scholar and a doctoral student of sociology at Columbia University.
Read more about Wade's life
"Here I am 10 years later, now doing research and working with the organization that sparked this in the first place," Wade said in an April interview with KPRC 2. "So I am incredibly humbled to be able to come back and give back."
Wade's light was dimmed when a man police referred to as his boyfriend, Mario Williams, 29, shot and killed him after an argument late Sunday evening.
Investigators said Williams tried talking to him at his home but Wade told him to leave. At some point Williams pulled out a gun and shot Wade, police said. Witnesses reported hearing two gunshots. One of the bullets hit Wade in the head.
"You took life from him. Not only did you take him, you took someone's uncle, someone's brother, someone's son, someone's grandson," Hendry said.
She said they are planning a prayer vigil for Wade before the end of the week.
Williams is charged with murder.
He is being held in Harris County jail on $100,000 bond.
He is expected to make his first court appearance on Wednesday.
