Jose Luis "Speedy" Espericueta, Jr.
Agency patch
Corporal

Jose Luis "Speedy" Espericueta, Jr.

Mission Police Department — Mission, TX
Felonious
End of Watch June 20, 2019
Age 44
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
The Vigil Panel 170 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Corporal Jose Espericueta was shot and killed as he and other officers attempted to apprehend a subject who had threatened family members.

A woman flagged down officers in the area of Stewart Road and Business Highway 83 and told them that her son had just shot at her car with a handgun. Corporal Espericueta and other officers responded to the scene and located the subject, who then fled on foot.

As the man ran he turned and opened fire, striking Corporal Espericueta multiple times. Other officers returned fire and killed the man.

Corporal Espericueta had served with the Mission Police Department for 13 years and had previously served with the San Benito Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-TX-F9B33E99
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Corporal Espericueta gave the Mission Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Mission community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Espericueta.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Mission, Hidalgo County, TX
Platform Identity misspd.hidalgo.tx.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 20, 2019
Tour of Duty 18 yrs
Age 44
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun

Corporal Jose Luis "Speedy" Espericueta, Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,756 officers honored here.

In TX, 1,460 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.3% of this state's fallen. That is 60.3 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.

At Mission Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Mission Police Department
2
of 4 officers
50% Felonious
TX — Statewide
1,460
of 2,421 officers
60.3% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,756 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jose Luis "Speedy" Espericueta, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Jose Luis "Speedy" Espericueta, Jr. Compares

Age at Death
44
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
18
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jose Luis "Speedy" Espericueta, Jr. is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Jose Luis "Speedy" Espericueta, Jr. was killed by handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location