KATY, Texas — In the wake of a tragic ambush that claimed the life of Harris County Sheriff’s Deputy Fernando Esqueda on July 11, 2024, two Cinco Ranch High School students have stepped up to support law enforcement with a remarkable community effort. Billy Gibbons, 16, a junior, and his brother Joey Gibbons, 14, a freshman, both from Katy, Texas, have spearheaded a project to bolster officer safety through donations to the Asian American Police Officers Association (AAPOA). Their initiative, sparked by the deputy’s death, blends personal ties and practical innovation, earning admiration for their dedication to protecting those who protect others.
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Billy Jr on right, Joey on left. Behind the Cinco Ranch students is 3,000 lbs of exterior covering the PPG donated to be used on the bus for the AAPOA.
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AAPOA approached Armor Upfitters for shield donations (with the help of PPG Industries) in honor of Deputy Sheriff Esqueda in July 2025. Shown in picture are HPD, Harris Co Constables, and other agencies.
The incident that inspired the Gibbons brothers unfolded in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, as Deputy Esqueda, 28, worked mandatory patrols amid widespread power outages. Around 10 p.m., Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) deputies responded to a Little Caesars Pizza in northeast Harris County, where a suspect, later identified as Ronald Palmer Jr., 44, pistol-whipped an employee over a disputed order. Witnesses provided a license plate, launching a search. Esqueda located Palmer’s unoccupied Chrysler 300 in the 13200 block of Italian Cypress Trail and began coordinating with colleagues. As he worked, Palmer ambushed him, firing multiple rounds. Despite colleagues rushing him to a hospital, Esqueda succumbed to his wounds. Over 1,000 mourners attended his funeral, a testament to his impact.
Palmer, a truck driver, was apprehended after a day-long manhunt 1.5 miles from the scene, charged with capital murder. A second suspect, Dremone Francis, 27, was arrested in July 2024, facing capital murder and evidence tampering charges. Initially held without bond, Francis’ bond was set at $1 million in November 2024; he posted it in February 2025 and was released to house arrest, sparking controversy.
For Billy Gibbons, the loss hit close to home. “I’ve been heavily involved with police officers as a kid,” he said in an interview, noting his half-Asian heritage through his mother ties him personally to the AAPOA. “My initial involvement with the organization was mainly because my dad had original ties to it.” That connection—through their father, William Gibbons, owner of Armor Upfitters in Katy—ignited their project. After Esqueda’s death, William donated bulletproof shields to the AAPOA, designed as soft, removable car seat covers officers can grab in emergencies. Billy described them: “You pull it off while you’re seated… it’s a bulletproof material,” sized for one person, offering rapid protection in situations like Esqueda’s ambush, where he lacked immediate gear.
Building on this, Billy and Joey envisioned more. They secured a school bus donation and partnered with PPG Industries, a Houston-area company, which provided 3,000 pounds of impact-resistant coating—typically used for truck bed liners—to transform the vehicle. “We received all the coating right in front of my house in my driveway,” Billy recalled, explaining the logistical challenge of moving it to the bus’s location. Once coated and adorned with AAPOA graphics, the bus will serve as a mobile billboard, attending events to promote the organization’s mission of supporting officers and their families while preventing unnecessary deaths—a cause made urgent by Esqueda’s killing.
The brothers faced hurdles, notably Billy’s self-doubt. “I found myself nervous to even try,” he admitted. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is really out of my abilities.’ But talking to these people—they’re just people, and they’re very understanding.” Overcoming that, he pitched the bus idea to AAPOA and secured PPG’s donation, a feat he credits to persistence. The 3,000 pounds of coating—delivered in six barrels—represents the project’s scale, dwarfing typical community drives and showcasing their ambition.
Their effort stands out in Katy, a tight-knit community west of Houston. Cinco Ranch High School, where Billy’s a junior and Joey a freshman, has rallied behind them, though the brothers leaned on family and industry ties rather than school-wide collections. Armor Upfitters' shields, already donated, address a gap Esqueda’s death exposed—quick-access protection. The bus, once finished, will amplify AAPOA’s outreach, a rolling tribute to fallen officers and a call for safety. The Gibbons brothers work honors Deputy Esqueda, whose death underscored the risks officers face, and reflects a maturity beyond their years.
