GhLinks Media
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the tragic, untimely loss of one of their own after an undercover deputy was killed Wednesday night.
It happened a little before 10:15 p.m. when deputies learned of an aggravated assault at a Little Caesars on Wallisville Rd. in northeast Harris Co.
Responding officers learned the attacker went into the restaurant to pick up a pizza but was upset because the order was incorrect.
The unidentified man then reportedly shouted at the employee before taking a gun out pistol-whipping the employee and taking off before authorities arrived.
HCSO detectives says they do have surveillance video of the incident.
The attacker’s car was later found on Italian Cypress Trail, by a 28-year-old deputy, later identified as Fernando Esqueda, working undercover.
Investigators say he may have had radio issues, but was on the phone with another deputy before he was ambushed.
By the time additional officers arrived, they noted Esqueda’s patrol car riddled with bullet holes and the unidentified deputy also suffered several gunshot wounds. They rushed him to LBJ Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Esqueda was said to be a 5-year veteran with HCSO and was part of its Violent Person’s Task Force.
As for the Esqueda’s killer, SWAT teams have been set up at two locations as they do believe they know who the gunman is.
He has only been described as a Black man wearing a hat with a black jersey with unknown writing on it.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez offered condolences to the deputy’s family members adding how committed they are to bringing them justice.
