HOUSTON — A tragic incident unfolded as Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda, 28, lost his life while in pursuit of a suspect involved in an assault at a Little Caesars Pizza outlet in the Houston area. The suspect had violently assaulted a clerk over a mistaken pizza order, leading to a fatal confrontation with law enforcement.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported that Deputy Esqueda was fatally shot early Thursday morning after locating the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect, identified as Ronald Palmer Jr., was subsequently apprehended around 7 p.m. the same day. During a press conference Thursday night, Sheriff Gonzalez announced Palmer’s arrest on charges including capital murder of a police officer and aggravated assault.
According to court records, Palmer remains in custody without bond. There is no information available at this time regarding legal representation for Palmer.
The tragic sequence of events began with an altercation at the Little Caesars Pizza shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday, when a customer became agitated over an incorrect order and assaulted the clerk with a pistol before fleeing the scene. The clerk promptly provided details of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate, prompting a search by Harris County Sheriff’s deputies.
Deputy Esqueda, a highly regarded member of an elite task force specializing in violent offenders, located the suspect’s vehicle around midnight. However, he was ambushed and fatally shot before further details could be ascertained.
“We are still piecing together the exact sequence of events,” Sheriff Gonzalez stated. “It appears Deputy Esqueda was ambushed and sustained serious injuries from gunfire. He was pronounced deceased upon arrival at the hospital.”
Deputy Esqueda had served with the sheriff’s office for approximately five years and was widely respected among his peers. He had been actively involved in securing the area following Hurricane Beryl, contributing to extended 12-hour shifts alongside other department personnel to prevent looting and maintain security.
The loss of Deputy Esqueda has deeply affected the Harris County law enforcement community, highlighting the dangers faced by officers in the line of duty and emphasizing the ongoing efforts to ensure public safety amidst challenging circumstances.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident to gather more details surrounding the tragic loss of Deputy Fernando Esqueda.