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New court filings show a second suspect faces a capital murder charge in the killing of Harris County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Fernando Esqueda, who was fatally shot while staking out a vehicle last week.
Prosecutors alleged in a criminal complaint Sunday that Dremone Eugene Francis, 26, of northeast Harris County, shot Esqueda on Thursday in a killing that sparked a day-long manhunt.
However, bail records approved by Harris County Magistrate Patrick Joseph only describe Francis as a witness to the killing who helped the lead suspect in the case hide and try to sell two guns used in the shooting. Harris County District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Joe Stinebaker said Monday morning he could not immediately clarify Francis’ alleged role in the shooting.
Francis also faces a felony charge of tampering with evidence, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Investigators have said Ronald “Ronnie” Palmer Jr. shot Esqueda at about midnight Thursday while the deputy was staking out Palmer's car, which was seen driving away from the scene of an alleged assault at a Little Caesars Pizza store in Channelview. Esqueda was found shot around midnight on Thursday in a truck riddled with bullets sitting outside Palmer's address.
related to public safety
Suspect charged with capital murder in killing of Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy
by Eileen Grench / Staff Writer
Palmer, 44, was arrested Thursday evening about 1.5 miles from the scene of the shooting in northeast Harris County.
Esqueda was a five-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office and engaged to be married, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said Thursday. Gonzalez called the killing a potential ambush, though he cautioned that the circumstances of the shooting were still under investigation.
Joseph denied bail in Francis’ case Monday. In his order denying bail, Joseph wrote that Francis told investigators he and Palmer saw the deputy watching them in a light-colored truck. After Francis saw Palmer fire numerous times into Esqueda’s truck, Francis tried to hide two weapons used by Palmer, Joseph wrote.
“[Within] hours of the shooting, the defendant’s cell phone records revealed text messages orchestrating the sale of a ‘hot’ Draco firearm,” Joseph wrote.
A defense attorney for Francis could not be identified for comment.
A procession of law enforcement accompanied the body of the fallen officer Monday morning from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to Memorial Oaks Funeral Home.
Esqueda’s funeral services will begin with a public viewing from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church just east of downtown Houston, Gonzalez said. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston.
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