Roll of Honor
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
BO-US-TX-B195425A- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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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
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Fernando Esqueda is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Harris County Sheriff's Office, 23 of 56 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Fernando Esqueda's cause is highlighted.
How Fernando Esqueda Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with capital murder
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fernando Esqueda is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fernando Esqueda was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
55 officers from Harris County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
