A top ranking law enforcement official said Thursday that a Texas Tech University student accused of killing a campus police officer was searched at some point but still managed to have a gun on him while being booked on a drug charge.
Lubbock police Chief Greg Stevens said during a news conference that 19-year-old Hollis Daniels III was searched after Texas Tech police officer Floyd East Jr. came to his dorm room Monday on a welfare check.
He didn’t explain how Daniels could have had a gun on him after being taken to the campus police station.
Lubbock police Chief Greg Stevens said Thursday that a search of Hollis Daniels III (R), who is accused of killing officer Floyd East Jr., failed to turn up a weapon
A video shot by a bystander shows the moment Daniels was taken into a custody near the Texas Tech campus police headquarters
Daniels admitted to killing a campus police officer who was booking him on drug possession.
Daniels pulled the gun on officer East, 48, in the police headquarters in Lubbock at 7.45pm Monday night and shot him in the head, authorities say.
The 19-year-old from Seguin was taken to the station for a ‘debriefing’ after campus police searched his dorm room during a welfare check and found drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Det. Thomas Bonds of the Lubbock city police department says in an affidavit released Tuesday that Daniels wasn’t handcuffed while campus police officer East was processing him Monday.
East leaves behind a wife and two children.
Bonds says another officer left the room and then heard a loud bang. When he returned, he found East mortally wounded and Daniels gone. East’s body camera was taken.
The affidavit says Daniels told officers he had ‘f****d up’ and had done ‘something illogical’ following the shooting.
Daniels fled the station on foot, forcing the entire campus to be placed on lockdown while SWAT tried to track him down. He was arrested about an hour later after being tackled by officers in a nearby parking lot.
Colby Volkmann, from Irving, stands in silence to honor Floyd East Jr., a Tech police officer, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Lubbock, Texas
Randy Baker, a Texas Tech police corporal, prays for Floyd East Jr., a Tech police officer, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Lubbock, Texas
Texas Tech students gather at Memorial Circle to honor Floyd East Jr., a Tech police officer, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, in Lubbock, Texas
University spokesman Chris Cook said the tragedy unfolded when police conducted the search in his room following a request by University officials for a welfare check.
Sources told KCBD Daniels had tried to rip the slain officer’s body camera off him after the shooting, but other cops managed to find it at the scene.
Online records suggest Daniels had been in contact with police on campus before and had prior drug arrests on his record. He was arrested in September 2016 for drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. It is not clear how the case was resolved.
His Facebook profile, which is under a different name, says he is studying Communications Arts at Texas Tech.
His father is a former city councilman and his family, who are believed to have long roots in the small community, owns a chain of movie theaters. The teenager was believed to be a manager at one of the movie venues.
Texas Tech University freshman Hollis A. Daniels allegedly shot and killed East at the campus police headquarters on Monday night
The campus was placed on lockdown while SWAT tried to track down Daniels. He was arrested less than two hours later and taken into custody
University spokesman Chris Cook says campus police found drugs in Daniels’ dorm. They then brought him back to police headquarters for a ‘standard debriefing
Daniels’ Instagram bio read: ‘May the best of your today be the worst of your tomorrow, but we aint even thinkin that far ahead.’
On June 16, he wrote: ‘Why God, why God do I gotta suffer?’
Last year, Texas enabled people with concealed handgun permits to carry their weapons on public university campuses. People have to be 21 to get a concealed carry permit in the state.
Governor Greg Abbott issued a statement after the shooting saying: ‘First and foremost, our hearts go out to the family of the police officer killed at Texas Tech University.
‘I have spoken to Chancellor Robert Duncan to offer my condolences, and I have mobilized the Texas Department of Public Safety to offer any assistance to the Lubbock Police Department.
Online records suggest Daniels (left and right in a younger picture) had been in contact with police on campus before and had been arrested for drug possession
Daniels is seen in a photo with his college’s name written along the bottom
‘As the Texas Tech campus deals with this heartbreaking tragedy, Cecilia and I pray for the continued safety of the students and the entire community.’
Chancellor Duncan also released a statement saying: ‘Words can’t express how saddened I am by the tragic loss of one of our Texas Tech University police officers tonight.
‘Terri and I offer our thoughts and prayers to the officer’s family and the Texas Tech University Police Department. I would like to thank Governor Greg Abbott, Lubbock Mayor Dan Pope and all of the law enforcement professionals from across the area who supported our campus during this time of need.
‘Our Texas Tech family is strong and will support each other as we grieve.’
Following the shooting, the Texas Democratic Party released an apology for a tweet that linked the state’s ‘campus carry’ law.
As news of the shooting was breaking late Monday, the Texas Democrats’ Twitter account posted: ‘Allowing concealed guns on college campuses was a dumb and dangerous idea.’
Critics noted that you have to be 21 to get a concealed carry permit and the suspected Texas Tech shooter is 19.
Texas Democratic Party Deputy Executive Director Manny Garcia said in a statement Tuesday that “our words were inadequate, hurried and we apologize,” adding that the tweet has been removed.
Cops are seen gathered on an intersection after a Texas Tech cop was shot and killed
Police officers gather at the scene to investigate after their colleague was shot and killed
Officers are seen searching for evidence at the side of the road after the cop’s slaying