In the late summer evening of August 9, 2015, in the West Columbia area of Lexington County, South Carolina, the life of 45-year-old Hector Vasquez was tragically cut short. A Hispanic man, devoted husband of twenty years, and a dedicated father to four children, Vasquez was at his home in the Rolling Meadows Mobile Home Park when the fatal encounter occurred.
Around 9:00 p.m., he was confronted outside his residence by an armed man who demanded money.
Present during this terrifying ordeal were Vasquez's seventeen-year-old son and a family acquaintance. In a final act of paternal protection, Vasquez stepped in to defend his son. It was then that the assailant fired his weapon, striking Vasquez in the upper chest. His son was also shot during the robbery but survived his injuries. Despite being rushed to Palmetto Health Richland hospital, Hector Vasquez succumbed to his injuries during surgery.
The Lexington County Sheriff's Department immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. A crucial tip from Midlands Crimestoppers led law enforcement to a suspect, Ricky Lamont Esaw, a 42-year-old man from Lexington County. The investigation revealed a disturbing pattern, as Esaw had a history of targeting Hispanic individuals in a series of brutal robberies, often in mobile home parks.
Following a week-long jury trial in October 2017, Ricky Lamont Esaw was found guilty of the murder of Hector Vasquez. In addition to the murder conviction, he was also found guilty of attempted murder, armed robbery, two counts of attempted armed robbery, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. For his crimes, Esaw was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing a measure of justice to the family of Hector Vasquez.
