A second suspect has been arrested in Texas in connection with the ambush and killing of a Houston-area sheriff’s deputy last week, authorities said.
Suspect Dremont Francis, 26, was charged with murder in the death of Harris County Deputy Fernando Esqueda and was booked into the Harris County Jail, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a social media post.
Francis’ arrest comes after suspect Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr., 44, was arrested Thursday and charged with murder.
Texas man arrested in ambush and shooting death of deputy after Little Caesars attack: sheriff
Dremont Francis, 26, has been charged with murder and is being held in the Harris County Jail. (Harris County Sheriff’s Office)
Esqueda, 28, was shot and killed in the line of duty Wednesday night while pursuing a man suspected of pistol-whipping an employee at a Little Caesars restaurant on Wallisville Road in Houston.
“Our hearts are heavy. He was a wonderful young man and he was taken far too soon. He loved his job as a police officer and his death has left us with a great sense of loss,” Gonzalez said at a news conference Thursday.
Texas sheriff’s office launches search after detective killed in ambush
Ronnie Palmer, 44, was also arrested and charged with murder in connection with Esqueda’s death. (Harris County Sheriff)
Palmer is accused of assaulting and pistol-whipping a Little Caesars employee after receiving the wrong order, then fled the restaurant and police began a manhunt for him based on the description of the employee’s vehicle.
Esqueda, who was part of the search, believed he had found the vehicle and contacted another detective to let him know. He was ambushed while on the phone, according to Harris County authorities.
When reinforcements arrived at the scene on Italian Cypress Trail around 1:00 a.m., they found the Esqueda had been shot multiple times and the vehicle had visible bullet holes.
The body of slain Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda is scheduled to be transported to a funeral home Monday morning. (Harris County Sheriff)
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Officers used a patrol car to transport Esqueda to a hospital in critical condition, where he later died.
A formal funeral procession is scheduled for Monday to escort Esqueda’s body to the funeral home.
Fox News’ Michael Lewis contributed to this report.
