Manhunt for undercover agent in Harris County set to kill

Todd Travon Rogers and Chad Washington

9 mins ago

HOUSTON (KIAH) – Harris County officials are searching for a person killed by gunfire in connection with the death of one of their own.

A 28-year-old Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputy was shot and killed Wednesday night in eastern Harris County by a man who attacked a Little Caesars employee.

Deputy Fernando Esqueda, a five-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, died after being taken to Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Hospital after being shot at 13200 Italian Cypress Trail. The incident occurred around 10:10 p.m. in northeast Harris County when officers responded to an aggravated assault that was taking place at a Little Caesars on Wallisville Road.

Officers are searching for 44-year-old Ronnie Palmer, who is wanted for aggravated assault on a Little Caesars employee and is also implicated in Esqueda’s murder, Gonzalez said.

Arriving officers learned that an employee at Little Caesars had been assaulted when the suspect came to pick up a pizza. The customer was reportedly upset because the order was incorrect. Surveillance footage from the scene showed the suspect verbally assaulting the employee, pulling out a firearm, and striking her with a pistol before fleeing the scene.

An undercover Violent Persons Task Force unit found the vehicle when it showed up on Flock’s public safety system. The undercover officer reportedly had radio issues but was on the phone with another officer when he was allegedly ambushed.

Backup units found the deputy with multiple gunshot wounds. Esqueda succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

HCSO Deputy Chief Mike Lee said Esqueda is a member of an elite anti-violence task force and has been with the sheriff’s office for about five years.

“He was very good at his job and very well respected,” Lee said.

There is currently a heavy police presence in the area as SWAT authorities search for the suspect, who is described as a black male wearing a hat and black jersey.

Authorities believe they have a rough idea of ​​who the suspect is and have deployed SWAT teams at two locations, Lee said, expressing confidence that he will be taken into custody “in a timely manner.”

“If the suspect happens to see this, he must do the right thing and turn himself in,” Lee said.

Esquela was “highly valued” as a member of an elite anti-violence task force and had been with the sheriff’s office for about five years, Lee said.

“We are praying with Deputy Esqueda’s family, friends and colleagues during this incredibly difficult time,” Gonzalez said. “None of us are prepared for such an untimely death and our members need your prayers and support.”

If anyone has information about the incident, they are asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.