Over a thousand attend burial of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda in Houston

Over a thousand mourners came to honor the life of a fallen Harris County Sheriff’s Office deputy on Friday morning at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in downtown Houston.

Fernando Esqueda, a five-year veteran of the department, was shot and killed in the early morning hours on July 11 while surveilling the house of an assault suspect.

After a daylong manhunt, two men were eventually arrested and charged in the attack, using the same handcuffs that Esqueda carried before his death.

On Friday, Esqueda’s colleagues in the department streamed through the doors to attend the standing-room-only service.

Once the funeral began, two young sheriff’s office deputies guarded the doors in cream-colored, wide-brimmed hats and white gloves. Inside the church, a sea of uniformed men and women in black filled out the cross-shaped cathedral.

As Esqueda’s hometown pastors led the massive congregation in prayer some fellow deputies sat quietly, hands holding their upturned hats. Others, like Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Jose Gomez, kneeled on the marble floor of the cathedral.

Esqueda’s close family attended the service, as well as his grieving fiancée, Emily Guerra, who he planned to marry in September. Nearby, Esqueda’s extended family clutched Kleenex packets left for them on the pews of the church brimming with more than 1,200 mourners.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez spoke to Esqueda’s character and passion for the job of protecting the community.

Esqueda’s personality was “electric,” said Gonzalez. He described him as a true crime fighter, “accomplished musician” and drummer.

“Well done, Fernando,” he told the churchgoers. “We’ll take the watch.”

After the service, Esqueda’s family accompanied the casket out the doors.

They were received by rows of law enforcement officers hailing from all around the state who stood in salute under a giant billowing American flag. As bagpipes sounded and church bells clanged, family members wept.

In honor of the fallen officer, fellow police gave a rifle salute, presented an American flag to Esqueda’s closest family, and played taps as a slight breeze blew across St. Joseph’s Parkway.

“Your service and sacrifice will never be forgotten,” said a dispatcher’s voice, emanating at top volume out of the multiple police vehicles on the block.