Authorities in Texas have arrested a suspect in the ambush and death of a Houston-area sheriff’s deputy, who investigators say was shot and killed while searching for the suspect who pistol-whipped a Little Caesars restaurant worker early Thursday.
Law enforcement agencies in Harris County and surrounding areas had been searching for suspect Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr., 44, in connection with the death of local sheriff’s deputy Fernando Esqueda.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said he was last seen wearing a black tracksuit with “Bel Air Academy” written on it, shorts and a towel draped over his shoulders before his arrest at a home on Gita Street Thursday evening. Authorities are expected to provide more information at a press conference at 8:30 p.m. CST.
Authorities urged residents to remain vigilant and vigilant while search operations were underway.
Texas sheriff’s office launches search after detective killed in ambush
Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda stands in uniform in front of a U.S. flag in this portrait provided by the sheriff’s office. Esqueda was shot and killed early Thursday morning and a search is underway for a suspect. (Harris County Sheriff)
Gonzalez told X that the deputy, a 28-year-old police veteran with five years of experience, was also at the scene as part of the investigation.
Palmer is believed to be a suspect in the shooting and is also wanted for an aggravated assault at a Little Caesars Pizza store on Wallisville Road in east Harris County.
An enraged customer at a pizza parlor allegedly pistol-whipped a clerk and fled the scene. As authorities searched for a suspect in the attack, Esqueda was ambushed while on the phone with another detective, authorities said Thursday.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office was “urgently” seeking information about Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr., who authorities are looking for on aggravated assault charges and is being investigated for the murder of Deputy Fernando Esqueda. Authorities described him as “tall with a stocky build,” with tattoos on both arms and dreadlocks. The photo on the left shows the suspect at a Little Caesars restaurant shortly before Thursday’s murder. The photo on the right was taken by body camera during an encounter with deputies on July 8. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
About 1 a.m. Thursday, reinforcements arrived and found Esqueda’s vehicle riddled with bullet holes in the 13200 block of Italian Cypress Trail.
He had been shot multiple times.
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Ronnie Palmer has been identified as a suspect in the murders and is wanted in connection with the assaults. Authorities released the image early Thursday morning but have since sent out new photos of him with his long hair in dreadlocks. (Harris County Sheriff)
Deputy Sheriff Mike Lee told reporters that Esqueda was a member of a “very elite task force.”
“This group goes after child rapists, suspected murderers, the most violent criminals every day, that’s what they do for a living,” Lee said. “And he was very good at his job and had a very good reputation.”
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Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez speaks to the media about the death of Deputy John Hampton Coddu in the line of duty, Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Houston. On Thursday, he announced the death of yet another deputy, Fernando Esqueda, and announced the launch of a search for suspects in the case. (Kirk Sides/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Fellow officers transported him in a patrol car to a hospital in serious condition, where he later died from his injuries.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott pledged the state’s full support to local police as they search for the shooter.
“Whenever police officers put on the badge, they selflessly put their lives at risk,” he said in a statement. “Violence against police officers will never be tolerated in Texas.”
State police and special agents are assisting in the search, he said.
Deputy Mike Lee of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said the 28-year-old detective “appeared to have been ambushed” after spotting a vehicle believed to belong to the aggravated assault suspect. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office/Facebook)
“Please join Cecelia and me in praying for Deputy Esqueda’s family, loved ones and the entire Harris County community,” he added.
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Authorities are urging anyone with information on Palmer’s whereabouts to contact Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). A $5,000 reward has been offered for information in this case.
“None of us are prepared for such an untimely death, and our members need your prayers and support,” Gonzalez said. “Our hearts go out to his family as they try to come to terms with this tragic news.”
He vowed to bring the killer to justice.
Fox News’ Elizabeth Pritchett and Greg Norman contributed to this report.
