Hollis A. Daniels, a 19-year-old Texas Tech University freshman, allegedly shot and killed a police officer on campus last night.
Daniels, 19, pulled the gun on the officer in the police headquarters in Lubbock, Texas around 7:45pm Monday night and shot him in the head.
According to police, the 19-year-old from Seguin was taken to the police station for a “debriefing” after campus police found drugs in his room during a welfare check. As police and Daniels entered the headquarters, Daniels allegedly opened fire, killing the officer, who is still unidentified at this time.
It is unknown whether he was armed or got the weapon from inside the building.
via KCBD:
At the TTU police station, Daniels is accused of pulling a gun and fatally shooting an officer. The suspect ran off and a full SWAT call out was made.
“During this time, the suspect pulled a gun and mortally shot an officer,” Texas Tech Police Department Chief Kyle Bonath said. “The suspect fled on foot and later apprehended by TTPD near the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum.”
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. Sources say Daniels’ ripped off the officer’s body camera after the shooting, but the camera was found around 10:30 p.m.
Once Daniels was taken into custody, the lockdowns at Texas Tech University and University Medical Center were lifted. Classes will resume normally on Tuesday, Oct. 10, but officials say people still need to avoid the Texas Tech Police Department and the north side of campus.
According to KCBD, T.C. Richards, a student at Texas Tech, although he found out about the active shooter situation, many students walking around, unaware of the situation. He decided to drive around and pick up students and take them to their dorms. He said he pulled over in the parking lot of the Jones AT&T Stadium to send a text to a friend about the shooting. He then noticed a man walking next to his vehicle who matched the description of the shooter.
“He walked out from behind the football stadium, between the football stadium and the training facility, started walking across the parking lot, in the same exact clothing he was wearing. He kept looking back at my truck. My headlights were on and he kind of walked pretty quick,” Richards to KCBD.
Officials with Texas Tech Police, Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Federal agents, and the Texas Department of Public Safety were all called to assist with the lockdown.
Greg Abbott, the Governor of Texas, released a statement on the shooting:
“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. 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.”
Robert Duncan, Texas Tech University System Chancellor, also released a statement on the tragedy:
“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.”
The shooting prompted a lockdown on the Texas Tech Lubbock campus for over an hour.
