Prev Next

Deputy Sheriff

Fernando Esqueda

Harris County Sheriff's Office — Houston, TX

Felonious

End of Watch July 11, 2024

Age 28

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 402 · Column 4 · Line 5 ›

Gender Male

Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 55

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda was shot and killed from ambush after locating a vehicle wanted in connection to an aggravated assault.

The subject had become engaged in an argument with a restaurant employee over an incorrect order and pistol-whipped the worker. Witnesses provided responding deputies with the suspect's license plate number, which detectives used to locate an area of interest using a license plate reader system. Detectives conducted an initial search of the area but didn't locate the vehicle and cleared the area.

A short time later Deputy Esqueda returned to the area and located the vehicle unoccupied in the 13200 block of Italian Cypress Trail. As he coordinated with other deputies, the subject ambushed him and shot him multiple times. The responding deputies transported Deputy Esqueda to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The subject was arrested the following day and charged with capital murder. Another subject was charged with capital murder and tampering with evidence.

Deputy Esqueda had served with the Harris County Sheriff's Office for five years. He was assigned to the Violent Person Task Force and was working mandatory patrols in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl.

Survivors

He is survived by his mother, father, three sisters, three brothers, and a fiancée.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: neuraspine_01krbxtp7vem19cddnsx4fhewb
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Fernando. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Esqueda gave the Harris County Sheriff's Office 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Houston community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Esqueda.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Harris County Sheriff's Office

Type Sheriff's Office

Location Houston, Harris County, TX

Platform Identity hcso.harris.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 11, 2024

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 28

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail Gunfire

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Fernando is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

Compare against

Time

In 2024, 68 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 105th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States

Who

Fernando was 28. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Fernando had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death

Where he stood among them

Age by years of service

III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month

By day of the week

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause

Weapons recorded