A manhunt is underway in Houston for the gunman who ambushed and killed an on-duty police officer overnight, authorities said.
The incident began shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday when Harris County deputies responded to an aggravated assault at a Little Caesars pizza restaurant, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Lee said at a news conference.
“What happened doesn’t make sense,” Lee said Thursday. “The suspect entered the location to pick up a pizza he had ordered.”
“He was upset because the order was incorrect,” Lee said.
The suspect allegedly verbally assaulted the employee, “then pulled out a firearm, pistol-whipped the employee and fled the scene,” Lee said.
“The Little Caesars employee was able to identify the getaway car by make and model, color and license plate,” Lee said.
Deputy Fernando Esqueda spotted the suspect’s car, Lee said. Esqueda then “talked on the phone with one of the other detectives to let him know he had the suspect vehicle in sight,” Lee said.
While on the phone, “our deputy was apparently ambushed” and shot multiple times, Lee said.
Other detectives rushed Esqueda to a hospital, where he died almost immediately upon arrival, the Harris County sheriff said. Ed Gonzalez he told reporters.
Esqueda, 28, was a five-year veteran of the department, Gonzalez said.
“So many broken promises,” Gonzalez said.
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Esqueda was “a member of an elite task force, the violent people task force,” Lee said.
“He went after the worst of the worst,” the sheriff added.
Gonzalez said Ronnie Palmer is wanted for the Little Caesars attack and has been identified as a person of interest in the capital murder of Esqueda.
“There is an active search for Palmer,” Gonzalez wrote on social media. “Please call us now: do not help or assist him, or YOU may face serious consequences for doing so. We want a safe resolution.”
Urgent! Help us locate Ronnie Palmer (10/17/79). Palmer is wanted for aggravated assault that occurred on July 10, 2024, at 15634 Wallisville in East Harris County. He is also a person of interest in the capital murder of a Harris County sheriff’s deputy. If you
1/2 pic.twitter.com/Cl3aRW7RH8-Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) July 11, 2024
Authorities ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 713-222-8477.
Lee noted that the killing comes as “everyone is on edge” in the Houston area, with more than 1 million still without power in the state. in the wake of Hurricane Berylwhich took place on Monday.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced Thursday that more than 100 police officers from across Texas are heading to Houston to help with local law enforcement. The officers will patrol neighborhoods without power, help control traffic at intersections where there is no power and replace Houston police officers who have worked 12-hour shifts all week, the mayor said.
Shooter free after ambush, killing deputy after attacking pizza worker by wrong order: Authorities originally appeared in abcnews.go.com
