The suspect is also accused of aggravated assault
Authorities in Houston have arrested a man suspected of involvement in the killing of an off-duty police officer, authorities announced Thursday night.
The suspect, identified by police as Ronnie Palmer, is also charged with aggravated assault following an incident at a Little Caesars pizzeria. He was “located and taken into custody without further incident,” Sheriff Ed Gonzalez confirmed on X Thursday night.
Wednesday’s incident began just after 10 p.m. when Harris County deputies responded to a serious assault at Little Caesars, Harris County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Lee said earlier at a news conference.
“What happened was senseless,” Lee said Thursday morning. “The suspect came to the location to pick up a pizza he had ordered.”
“He was angry because the order was wrong,” Lee said.
The suspect allegedly verbally assaulted the employee, “then pulled out a firearm, pistol-whipped the employee and fled,” Lee said.
“The Little Caesars employee was able to identify the getaway car by its make, model, color and license plate,” Lee said.
Deputy Fernando Esqueda saw the suspect’s car, Lee said. Esqueda “then had a phone conversation with one of the other detectives to let him know he had the suspect vehicle in sight,” Lee said.
While we were on the phone, our officer was apparently ambushed and shot multiple times, Lee said.
Other detectives rushed Esqueda to the hospital, where he died almost immediately upon arrival, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters.
Esqueda, 28, had been with the department for five years, Gonzalez said.
“There is so much promise that is not being delivered,” Gonzalez said.
Esqueda was “a member of a very elite task force, the violent crimes task force,” Lee said.
“He went after the worst people,” the sheriff added.
Gonzalez had previously announced that Palmer was wanted in connection with the Little Caesars attack and that he had been identified as a person of interest in Esqueda’s murder.