HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — Ronald Ronnie Palmer Jr., 44, charged with capital murder for the death of Deputy Fernando Esqueda, will remain in jail without bond. Palmer also faces two counts of aggravated assault for an incident earlier that night. During his first court appearance on Monday in the 248th District Court, the judge denied bond for his capital murder charge.
The district attorney’s office has filed a motion to hold Palmer in jail until trial, with a decision pending after a proof-evident hearing in September. Prosecutors indicated they are considering the death penalty but will review all evidence before making a decision.
Law enforcement and approximately 30 of Esqueda’s family and friends attended the courtroom session. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez described the deputy’s death as “senseless, devastating, heartbreaking.”
Dremone Francis, 26, was also arrested over the weekend in connection with the case. He faces charges of capital murder and tampering with evidence and is being held without bond for the capital murder charge. Francis and Palmer are neighbors on Blue Wonder Lane, where the shooting occurred.
Francis waived his probable cause court appearance, but his charges were read in court. Prosecutors stated that a witness placed Francis at the murder scene and that he admitted involvement. Court records reveal that Francis claimed Palmer was discussing a confrontation with Little Caesar’s employees over his order on Wednesday night. Francis alleged that Palmer noticed someone watching them from a light-colored truck and fired several shots into the vehicle.
The document does not indicate that Francis implicated himself as a shooter, but he told investigators that Palmer handed him two guns and instructed him to dispose of them. Harris County DA Kim Ogg mentioned evidence suggesting two guns were used in the officer’s murder, implying the likelihood of two shooters.
Prosecutors read in court that Francis admitted Palmer gave him a pistol and a Mini Draco firearm to dispose of immediately after the murder. A witness confirmed that Francis dropped off these weapons in a black trash bag, stating the guns were “hot” and needed to be discarded.
Charging documents for both Palmer and Francis state that they shot Esqueda with a deadly weapon, knowing he was a peace officer. Officials have not clarified whether Palmer and Francis knew the person in the unmarked truck was a deputy.
Legal analyst Steve Shellist explained that to charge capital murder, the suspects must have known Esqueda was a peace officer. Without this proof, the case would be reduced to murder, impacting the punishment range.
On Wednesday, July 10, officers responded to an aggravated assault call at a Little Caesars Pizza on Wallisville Road. Palmer, the suspect, allegedly became upset with his order, verbally assaulted, and pistol-whipped an employee before fleeing. The employee provided a description of Palmer’s vehicle, including the license plate, which deputies traced to an address on the 13200 block of Italian Cypress Road.
Esqueda, working overtime to patrol streets post-Hurricane Beryl, responded to the area and identified the suspect’s vehicle. While speaking with team members on the phone, Esqueda was ambushed and shot. He was in his undercover vehicle, which was riddled with bullet holes. Esqueda, who had been with the department for five years, was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead.
Palmer’s attorney, Cheryl Irvin, stated, “We don’t know all the facts right now. We don’t know what his role is, if any, but we are going to do our best to defend him because we have taken an oath.”
On Monday morning, the body of 28-year-old Esqueda was processed to the funeral home ahead of his memorial service later this week.
