The Texas Tech University shooter is in custody, but his apprehension came at a cost

Hollis Daniels (Texas Tech University via AP)

Katie Hall American-Statesman Staff, 8:38 p.m Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 

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Tuesday, 3:10 p.m. update: Texas Tech University officials have identified the university police officer shot and killed Monday night as Officer Floyd East Jr. 

East, 48, is survived by his wife and two daughters, university officials said. He began his career with the Texas Tech Police Department in 2014 as a guard at the university’s Health Sciences Center in El Paso. While working as a guard, East attended the El Paso Community College Law Enforcement Academy to obtain his peace officer license. 

After graduating, he transferred to the Texas Tech Police Department’s Lubbock campus and completed his field training in August 2017, university officials said.

There will be a vigil at Texas Tech on Tuesday night to honor East, university officials said.

East was shot by Texas Tech freshman Hollis Daniels, who has since been jailed and charged with capital murder, according to police. 

The incident began Monday night when Texas Tech police received information about a student acting erratically who was reported to be in possession of a weapon, university officials said today. Officers came to a dorm, where they found what they suspected was drug paraphernalia. 

When Daniels showed up, officers searched him and also found drug paraphernalia on him, university officials said. They arrested him and took him to the Texas Tech police department. 

A police corporal left the room only to hear the bang of a gun firing moments later, he recounted in Daniel’s arrest affidavit. He rushed back into the room, only to find the police officer mortally wounded and Daniels missing. The officer’s gun was still in its holster, the corporal said, but his body camera was gone. 

After that, the Texas Tech counseling center told the police department that Daniels’ family had called the university to say that Daniels might have a weapon and might be making comments about suicide, university officials said today.

About an hour later, police found Daniels, who had a gun loaded with bullets of the same caliber and brand as the shell found at the police station, Lubbock police detectives wrote in the affidavit.

Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. update: Authorities said Texas Tech freshman Hollis Daniels admitted to killing a university police officer Monday night, telling authorities he “f—ed up” and did “something illogical,” according to court documents.

Daniels was booked into the Lubbock County Jail on a capital murder charge early Tuesday morning, records show. The Seguin High School graduate, where he was a lauded member of its theater program, could face the death penalty if convicted. 

According to authorities, Daniels was brought to the university police station Monday night. A university police corporal saw Daniels standing without handcuffs next to another officer, who was using a computer to complete the paperwork from the 19-year-old’s arrest on a drug charge. 

The corporal left the room only to hear the bang of a gun firing moments later, he recounted in the arrest affidavit. He rushed back into the room, only to find the police officer mortally wounded and Daniels missing. The officer’s gun was still in its holster, the corporal said, but his body camera was gone. 

Authorities locked down the Texas Tech campus and searched for Daniels, who was found with a gun loaded with bullets of the same caliber and brand as the shell found at the police station, Lubbock police detectives wrote in the affidavit. 

According to the court papers, Daniels admitted to the shooting in an interview with detectives after he was rearrested. 

MONDAY, OCT. 9, 2017

10:15 p.m. update: The student who is believed to have shot and killed a Texas Tech University police officer is now in custody, according to university officials.

Hollis Daniels (Texas Tech University via AP)

Texas Tech student Hollis Daniels, 19, is believed to have shot the officer in the head at the college’s police headquarters after officers brought Daniels in for questioning Monday night, university officials said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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9:30 p.m. update: The shooter who killed a Texas Tech University police officer is now in custody, according to the Lubbock Police Department and university officials.

Someone shot and killed the officer at the college’s police headquarters after officers brought the person in for questioning Monday night, a Texas Tech spokesman said in a statement.

The shooter was on the run for about an hour before being caught around 9:30 p.m.

University officials have not yet confirmed that the shooter was a student, but the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports that the shooter is believed to be 19-year-old Texas Tech freshman Hollis A. Daniels.

Earlier today, university police found what they believe to be drugs in a room – the spokesman did not say in which building – during “a student welfare check” and “brought the suspect to the police station for standard debriefing,” spokesman Chris Cook said. At that point, the person pulled a gun and fatally shot the officer in the head.

The campus lockdown has now been lifted, university officials said.

“A Texas Tech officer was able to tackle the suspect as he fled and took him into custody,” the Lubbock Police Department tweeted. “LPD officers were close behind and assisted.”

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8:50 p.m. update: A Texas Tech University police officer has been shot and killed at Texas Tech Police headquarters, two Lubbock media outlets are reporting.

Officers brought 19-year-old Texas Tech student Hollis A. Daniels into the department for questioning when the officer was shot in the head, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal is reporting. Daniels is reportedly on the run and has been named as a suspect, though the newspaper does not say whether Daniels shot the officer.

“Shooter is at large. The campus is on lockdown. Take shelter,” the tweet from the Lubbock university says.

“The inside of the building has been cleared and a SWAT team is assisting with the search,” KCBD-TV reports.

The officer was shot around 8 p.m. at the Texas Tech Police building at 413 Flint Avenue, the KCBD-TV news station reports. 

Earlier: A shooting has been reported at Texas Tech University’s police department, the college tweeted at 8:23 p.m.

“Shooter is at large. The campus is on lockdown. Take shelter,” the tweet from the Lubbock university says.

No other information was immediately available. This is a developing story; check back for details.

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