A second suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting death of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda.
Dremone Francis, 26, has been charged with capital murder and is currently booked in the Harris County Jail.
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We will update this post as we get more information.
What happened?
On Wednesday night, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office lost one of its own when Deputy Fernando Esqueda, 28, was shot and killed while on duty. According to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Esqueda was patrolling northeast Harris County around 10 p.m. when the incident occurred.
Deputy Esqueda and other officers responded to a call about a man who had pistol-whipped a Little Caesars employee on Wallisville Road after becoming upset over an incorrect pizza order. The suspect, identified as 44-year-old Ronnie Palmer, reportedly left the restaurant and drove to another location on Italian Cypress Trail. Esqueda, who was working undercover, followed Palmer.
During the confrontation at the second location, Palmer allegedly opened fire on Esqueda. When additional officers arrived, they found Esqueda’s patrol car riddled with bullet holes, and Esqueda critically wounded. He was rushed to LBJ Hospital by a private vehicle but succumbed to his injuries shortly after arrival.
The loss of Deputy Esqueda has deeply affected the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Gonzalez described Esqueda as a dedicated officer who loved serving and protecting the community. Esqueda had been with the department for five years, working in the Elite Violent Person Taskforce, and was known for his commitment to fighting crime.
Following the shooting, a Blue Alert was issued, and Ronnie Palmer Jr. was taken into custody.
“Our hearts are broken by the loss of Deputy Esqueda,” said Sheriff Gonzalez. “He exemplified the best qualities of law enforcement, and his dedication to our community will never be forgotten.”