HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (TND) — A man accused of shooting and killing a Texas deputy in an ambush attack has been charged with capital murder, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office.
Ronald "Ronnie" Palmer Jr. was also accused of aggravated assault after becoming upset that his pizza order at Little Caesars was incorrect.
The incident began just after 10 p.m. on Wednesday when deputies responded to the assault, Chief Deputy Mike Lee said during a news conference.
"He began assaulting, verbally, the employee and then produced a firearm and pistol-whipped the employee and then fled the location," Lee said.
Lee added the employee was able to identify the getaway car by make and model, color and license plate.
Deputy Fernando Esqueda, 28, was the one to spot the suspect's car, Lee said, and then "had a phone conversation with one of the other detectives to let him know he did have the suspect vehicle in sight."
"During the phone conversation, our deputy apparently was ambushed" and shot multiple times, according to Lee.
Officers then placed Esqueda into a patrol vehicle to take him to the hospital where he "succumbed to his gunshot wounds."
After Palmer was taken into custody, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said one of Esquada's closest friends shared that "he would be so proud right now."
Esqueda was a five-year veteran of the department and served the community in the Violent Person Task Force.
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