Jerry Lee Esparza

CUSTODIAL DEATH REPORT Agency Information CDR Number: 22-1072-UF Version Type: AMENDED Report Date: 4/26/2023 1:30 PM Status: Submitted Agency/Facility Information Beeville Police Agency Name: Agency Address: 402 N. Washington Dept. Agency City: Beeville Agency State: TX Agency Zip: 78102 Director Information Director Salutation: Chief Director First Name: Kevin Director Middle Name: Director Last Name: Behr Reporter Name: Kevin Behr Reporter Email: [email protected] Decedent Information Identity of Deceased Custodial Death Report :: Page 1 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- First Name: Jerry Middle Name: Lee Last Name: Esparza Suffix: Date of Birth: 1/4/1984 Sex: Male Race: Hispanic or Latino Age At Time Of Death: 38 Date/Time of Custody (arrest, incarceration) (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Date/Time of Custody or 7/6/2022 9:14 AM Incident: Date/Time of Death (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Death Date and Time: 7/6/2022 9:30 AM Manner / Cause of Death Has a medical examiner or coroner conducted an evaluation to determine a cause of death? Medical Examiner/Coroner Yes, results are Evaluation?: available What was the manner of death? (select only one) Homicide (includes Manner of Death: Justifiable Homicide) Custodial Death Report :: Page 2 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Medical Cause of Death: Medical Cause of Death: " died as a result of a penetrating gunshot wound to the chest." Had the decedent been receiving treatment for the medical condition that caused the death after admission to your jail's jurisdiction? Medical Treatment: No If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, who caused the death? Law Who caused the death?: enforcement/correctional personnel If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of weapon that caused Handgun death?: Was the cause of death the result of a pre-existing medical condition or did the decedent develop the condition after admission? Not Applicable; cause of death was Pre existing medical accidental injury, condition?: intoxication, suicide or homicide If death was an accident, homicide or suicide, what was the means of death? Means of Death: Firearm Location / Custody Information Custodial Death Report :: Page 3 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- Where did the event causing the death occur? 3609 N. St. Mary's Street Address: City: Beeville Street County: Bee Zip: 78102 What location category best describes where the event causing the death occurred? Location Category: Parking lot/garage What type of custody/facility was the Decedent in at the time of death: Pre-Custodial Use Type of Custody: of Force Specific type of custody/facility: Specific Type of Custody/Facility: N/A What was the time and date of the deceased's entry into the law enforcement facility where the death occurred (mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm AM/PM): Entry Date Time: 8/8/2022 4:37 PM Where did the death occur? Death Location: Scene of incident General Information Did any other law enforcement agencies respond to calls for service related to this incident? Other Agencies Respond?: Yes Custodial Death Report :: Page 4 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- What were the most serious offense(s) with which the deceased was (or would have been) charged with at the time of death? Offense 1: Aggravated Assault on Peace Officer Offense 2: Offense 3: Not filed at time of Were the Charges:: death What were the types of charges or reason for contact? (Hold CTRL to select all that apply) Type of Offense: Other, specify Type of Offense, Other: Disorderly Conduct At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent display or use a weapon? Decedent display/use of Yes, mark all that weapons: apply Decedent Display or Use Displayed other Weapon Details: weapon, specify: Specify Weapon Displayed: Knife At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Attempt to Injure Others?: No Custodial Death Report :: Page 5 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Appear intoxicated (alcohol or Unknown Make suicidal statements?: No drugs): Exhibit any mental health Unknown Exhibit any medical problems?: No problems?: At any time during the incident and/or entry into the law enforcement facility, did the decedent: Barricade self or initiate Resist being handcuffed or No No standoff?: arrested?: Physically attempt/assault Gain possession of officer's Yes No officer(s): weapon: Verbally threaten other(s) Escape or attempt to Yes No including law: escape/flee custody: Attempt gain possession No officer's weapon: Was the deceased under restraint in the time leading up to the death or the events causing the death? Under Restraint: No Summary of Incident Summary of How the Death Occurred: (max. 30,000 characters) Summary: On July 6, 2022, at approximately 9:14 AM, Beeville Police Department patrol units were dispatched to the OYO Hotel located at 3609 N. St. Mary's Street, Beeville, Bee County Texas in reference to a complaint of a male banging on doors and yelling at customers. Further information collected by BPD Communications from the 911 caller indicated that a bald male with tattoos was armed with a firearm. Lt. Kenneth Jefferson arrived on scene and made contact with the 911 caller, who pointed to the individual in question who was still on scene. Lt. Jefferson drove closer to the location of the individual in question who was standing outside of motel room open door. As he drove up, the bald male wearing a white t-shirt standing in the open motel doorway. Lt. Jefferson noticed the individual had bladed himself hiding his right hand behind his right leg as to hide what he was holding. Lt. Jefferson drew his service weapon and pointed at the individual as he gave several commands to the individual to show his hands. The male subject exited the motel to his right down the sidewalk from his motel room still hiding his right hand as he walked. Lt. Jefferson continued to give him commands to show his hands. The individual came to a stop and at that point he moved his hand from behind his right leg revealing a folding knife with the blade extended. The blade was serrated and approximately 4 inches in length. Lt. Jefferson continued to issue verbal commands to the individual to drop the knife. The individual stated something that was unrecognizable and then charged toward Lt. Jefferson still holding the knife in his right hand pointed at Lt. Jefferson in an aggressive manner as he charged. As the male closed the Custodial Death Report :: Page 6 of 7 --- PAGE BREAK --- distance, Lt. Jefferson feared for his life and discharged his service weapon 4 times as the individual charged at him while he was still seated in his patrol unit, the suspect was struck three out of the four shots fired from Lt. Jefferson's service weapon. Lt. Jefferson had been attempting to exit the interior of the patrol car and had partially opened the driver side door of the patrol unit, as he was in a confined space with little room to maneuver. However, the male made contact with the door with enough force to close it back onto Lt. Jefferson. One of the four shots fired by Lt. Jefferson struck the knife, causing it to shatter and spray small parts of the knife into the interior of the patrol car. Lt. Jefferson immediately called for EMS and other officers who had arrived at the scene started lifesaving efforts on the male. EMS arrived shortly later and declared that the male was deceased. A Bee County JP was called to the scene, as were the Texas Rangers who took the lead in the investigation at the request of the Beeville Police Department Chief of Police Kevin Behr. Custodial Death Report :: Page 7 of 7