Slain Texas Tech police officer a native El Pasoan, Andress High graduate

The Texas Tech Police Officer killed Monday night in Lubbock is a native El Pasoan who leaves behind a wife and two daughters.

Lubbock City Police officials said Tuesday Texas Tech student Hollis Daniels III confessed to killing campus police officer Floyd East Jr.

East’s Linked In account states he previously worked for the Texas Tech Police Department in El Paso. A lifelong friend of the victim told ABC-7 East graduated from Andress High in the late 80s and was doing security work for Texas Tech in El Paso “up until a couple of months ago” when East joined the Texas Tech police force in Lubbock.

A spokesman with the El Paso Independent School District told ABC-7 East graduated from Andress High in 1989.

Texas Tech officials said East, 48, joined the university’s police department as a dispatcher in 2015 and became an officer in May. It was his first job in law enforcement, according to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

East was booking Daniels on a drug possession charge after allegedly finding evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia inside Daniels’ room, investigators said.

Police said the 19-year-old Daniels wasn’t handcuffed while East was processing the paperwork. 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 also missing, but his service weapon was still holstered, police said.

The campus was locked down for about an hour Monday night and students were ordered to shelter in place during the search. Daniels was recaptured following a foot chase near the police station.

Daniels allegedly had the body camera and a handgun, investigators said. Police also haven’t said whether they believe Daniels used his own gun or one belonging to the department.

Daniels, who is from the San Antonio suburb of Seguin, is charged with capital murder of a peace officer and is being held in the Lubbock County jail on a $5 million bond.

The El Paso Independent School District released a statement saying EPISD has lost a family member. adding Officer East served as a great example of the selfless and important role law enforcement agents play in keeping our community safe.

The President of Texas Tech’s Health and Science’s Center in EL Paso also released a statement saying the university is deeply saddened by his tragic death, adding the police department works tirelessly to keep their campuses safe and their service is appreciated.

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THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT