A Harris County deputy responding to a call of an armed robbery was shot and killed in Houston on Wednesday night. Deputy Fernando Esqueda, 28, was shot and killed after responding to an emergency call just after 10 p.m. The sheriff’s office believes Esqueda was ambushed.
Esqueda was shot and killed after spotting and investigating a suspicious vehicle believed to be related to the 911 call. Hours after the murder, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez named 44-year-old Ronnie Palmer as a suspect in the armed shooting and Esqueda’s murder. Palmer was already wanted on aggravated assault charges in a previous incident.
we, Source Deputy Fernando Esqueda was shot and tragically killed while protecting our community.
Deputy Esqueda served with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for five years and has served our community well at HCSO.
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— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) July 11, 2024
A search for Palmer is currently underway and is being led by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and includes other state, federal and local law enforcement officials, including the Harris County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
Hosted by Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez Press conference In a story posted by KHOU 11 on Thursday, Gonzalez provided more details about the events that led to the murder of Deputy Esqueda, who had been with the police department for five years. Gonzalez said the police department was called to emergency services Wednesday evening after an altercation at a local pizza restaurant between a customer and an employee in his early 20s.
According to Gonzalez, a customer became upset over a mistaken order and got into a fight with a store employee. The sheriff’s office said the suspect then pulled a handgun on the employee, wounding him. Deputy Esqueda, who arrived on the scene to investigate the call, spotted a suspicious vehicle several miles from the store and began to investigate when he was shot at. Gonzalez said Deputy Esqueda may have been ambushed.
“We mourn the loss of Deputy Fernando Esqueda of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. He was shot and killed while defending our community,” she said in a heartfelt statement.
“Deputy Esqueda served with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office for five years and served our community with the HCSO Anti-Violence Unit. He was dedicated to protecting and serving the residents of Harris County.”
“Our prayers are with Deputy Esqueda’s family, friends and colleagues during this extremely difficult time,” the sheriff concluded. [sic] His dedication to duty and sacrifice will be forever remembered.”
On Thursday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement about Lt. Governor Esqueda’s tragic death, saying:
Our hearts are with the family and loved ones of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda, whose life was tragically taken while protecting our fellow Texans. Whenever our law enforcement officers put on the badge, they selflessly put their lives at risk. Violence against law enforcement officers will never be tolerated in Texas. The State of Texas is providing our full support to our local law enforcement partners, including the Texas Department of Public Safety troopers and special agents who are assisting in the investigation, so that this dangerous criminal is captured and brought to justice. Please join Cecilia and I in praying for Deputy Esqueda’s family, loved ones, and the entire Harris County community.”
Randy Clark Randy Clark is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Chief of the Law Enforcement Operations Division, where he led operations for nine Border Patrol stations in the Del Rio Sector, Texas. Follow @RandyClarkBBTX on X.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Additional information may be added as it becomes available.
