'I'm the one who shot your friend': Texas Tech student charged with capital murder
LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - The man accused of shooting and killing a Texas Tech Police Officer on the evening of Monday, October 9, 2017 has been charged with capital murder of a peace officer and is being held on a $5 million bond at the Lubbock County Detention Center.
The officer has been identified as 48-year-old Floyd East, Jr. Officer East has been with the TTU Police Department since 2014, but had only been on the Lubbock campus since May 1, 2017.
Texas Tech Chief of Police Kyle K. Bonath spoke to the media and provided some more details on Tuesday afternoon.
"Texas Tech police responded to a report of a student who was acting erratically who was said to be in possession of a weapon," Bonath said.
Texas Tech police made a student welfare check at the Talkington Residence Hall late Monday afternoon. When the officers entered the room of 19-year-old freshman Hollis A. Daniels, officers found evidence of drug paraphernalia.
Bonath said Daniels was arrested and taken to the Texas Tech Police Department.
"During this time, the suspect pulled a gun and fatally shot Officer East," Texas Tech Police Department Chief Kyle Bonath said. "The suspect fled on foot and was later apprehended by TTPD near the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum."
The warrant for Daniels states that he was in the Texas Tech Police Department briefing room with Officer East and he was not wearing handcuffs. A corporal heard a bang and ran into the room. Officer East was found with an apparent gunshot wound but Daniels was no longer in the room. A .45 caliber RP shell casing was found near the officer who was shot. The corporal reported that the officer's body camera was missing but that the officer's firearm was still in his holster.
The suspect fled on foot and SWAT was called to assist with the search.
Daniels family had previously called the Texas Tech Counseling Center and warned them that he may be in possession of a weapon and may have been considering suicide.
Daniels was taken into custody at 9:28 p.m. according to officials with the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office. He was found near the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum. According to the warrant, Daniels told the officers: "I'm the one that shot your friend." He also told officers that he "f***** up" and "did something illogical."
The warrant says a .45 caliber pistol loaded with RP ammunition was found where Daniels was arrested. The officer's body camera was also found nearby.
Sources tell KCBD NewsChannel 11 that the gun used in the fatal TTU officer shooting was reported as being stolen.
Lubbock police will be discussing more details about the case at a news conference at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. You can catch our livestream on KCBD.com and in our mobile app.
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