(The Center Square) – Acting Governor Dan Patrick told criminals if they ambush and kill police officers that the police “will hunt you down” as a manhunt is underway for an alleged murderer of a sheriff’s deputy.
Patrick issued the warning at a news conference in Houston on Thursday before giving an update on hurricane recovery efforts. Patrick is filling the role as acting governor while Gov. Greg Abbott is on an economic development tour in Asia.
The manhunt in Houston is for the alleged murder of a Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was ambushed and shot multiple times Wednesday night.
Deputy Fernando Esqueda, 28, who’d been with the sheriff’s office for five years, was a member of HCSO’s Violent Person Task Force responsible for bringing to justice child rapists, homicide suspects, and other violent offenders.
On Wednesday night, deputies received a call about an aggravated assault at a Little Caesars Pizza in northwest Houston after the assailant became upset about his order and allegedly pistol-whipped an employee. HSCO deputies responded with investigators who were already out working a 12-hour shift on post-storm patrols. Although the assailant fled the scene, the employee was able to identify his vehicle make, model, and license plate. Law enforcement officials began a search for the vehicle, which Esqueda found. When he called in the vehicle, he was ambushed. His body was found riddled with bullets, police say.
“Whoever these animals were will be caught, prosecuted, and hopefully a judge or a jury will give them the punishment they deserve,” Patrick said. “In the midst of this storm recovery when so many people are suffering, when our police are working 12- and 16- hour shifts, to think that a bunch of animals go in and pistol whip someone behind the counter of a pizza shop because they didn’t get their order right. They go out and apparently set an ambush … and gun down one of our brave heroes in his patrol vehicle will not stand. Will not,” he said, pounding the table.
Late Thursday, Abbott announced a combined $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and capture of the alleged killer of a sheriff’s deputy. The Texas Department of Public Safety also added the suspect to their 10 Most Wanted Fugitive List.
“Texas is a law-and-order state, and the dangerous criminal who ambushed and murdered Harris County Sheriff Deputy Fernando Esqueda will experience the full weight of justice brought against him,” Abbott said. “Our law enforcement officers selflessly risk their lives every day to serve and protect their fellow Texans. It’s crucial that our first responders know they will always have the full support of the State of Texas. I encourage Texans with information relating to this heinous crime to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online to bring this murderer to justice. Our prayers remain with the Deputy Esqueda’s family and his loved ones.”
The state is offering a $10,000 reward and Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and capture of the suspect. To be eligible for cash rewards, tipsters must provide information by calling the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477), submitting a tip through the Texas 10 Most Wanted website or Facebook page, or submitting a tip through the DPS’ mobile app.
All tips are anonymous.
Patrick warned “criminals in this city, in this county” that they “better be on notice. The police will hunt you down.”
At a press briefing on Tuesday, with Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the city needed more police “instantly.” Within hours, the head of the Texas Division of Emergency Management reached out to other police departments and reinforcements have already been coming to the city, Patrick said, including an additional 40 state troopers.
“We’ll send more if needed. We will send as many police as is needed to this community, to protect the community, to protect the property, and protect each other. It’s just unacceptable,” he said.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez also issued several statements, including a picture of the alleged assailant, calling on the public for help.
In one post he said, “Urgent! Help us locate Ronnie Palmer (10-17-79). Palmer is wanted for an 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 have any info regarding his whereabouts, contact Houston Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477).”
Patrick later said, “I apologize if I raised my voice too much in the beginning but I am just heartbroken for this officer who was killed and it’s hard to move on from that.
“Since I’ve been lieutenant governor and Greg Abbott’s been governor, we’ve lost over 50 officers in the line of duty. I’ve been to many of those funerals including in this area and every time we lose one there’s a piece of all of us who dies with [the officer] because they’re just people like you out there protecting us.”
Abbott, Patrick and the Texas legislature, including Whitmire when he was a state senator for 40 years, have advanced measures to support the police.
In the last legislative session, Abbott signed several public safety bills into law that received bipartisan support to enhance penalties for some crimes, provide additional support to law enforcement personnel and local communities, The Center Square reported.
This is after the Texas legislature passed “Back the Blue” bills that Abbott signed into law in 2021, which included a measure that now ties municipalities that defund their police departments to losing tax revenue. The measure was passed after the Austin City Council defunded its police in 2020.
The city has still not recovered from the action with fewer police in the field and crime continuing to skyrocket. Abbott surged resources to Austin, including Texas Department of Public Safety officers who are still providing support to the Austin Police Department.