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The Latest: Campus cops were told student may have weapon

This photo provided by Texas Tech University shows slain Texas Tech Police Department Officer Floyd East Jr. A Texas Tech University student confessed to killing East, who had been booking him on a drug possession charge, telling detectives he had done “something illogical” and that “he was the one that shot their friend,” an investigator said. (Texas Tech University via AP)
Original Publication Date October 10, 2017 - 4:56 AM

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Latest on the fatal shooting of a Texas Tech University police officer (all times local):

4 p.m.

Texas Tech University's campus police chief says an officer went to check on the wellbeing of a 19-year-old student because the department received reports that he had been acting erratically and might have "a weapon."

Police Chief Kyle Bonath said Tuesday at a news conference that the student, Hollis Daniels III, later "pulled a gun" and shot the officer, Floyd East Jr., on Monday while being booked on a drug possession charge at the campus police station. Authorities have said Daniels wasn't handcuffed at the time.

Bonath didn't take questions at the news conference, and it's not clear if he meant that Daniels drew a gun he had on him. He also didn't say whether Daniels had been checked for weapons when first arrested on the drug charge.

The chief also said Daniels' family called a campus counsellingcentre to say he may be suicidal and may have a gun, but Bonath didn't specify whether that call happened before or after the shooting.

Daniels is charged with murder.

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11:50 a.m.

The Texas Democratic Party is apologizing for a tweet that linked the state's "campus carry" law to the arrest of a Texas Tech University student in the fatal shooting of a campus police officer.

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."

That referred to a law that took effect last year allowing Texans with concealed carry permits to bring guns into university classrooms and buildings.

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.

Authorities say Hollis Daniels III fatally shot officer Floyd East Jr. while being booked on a drug possession charge.

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10:50 a.m.

Authorities say a Texas Tech University student confessed to killing a campus police officer who was booking him on a drug possession charge.

Det. Thomas Bonds of the Lubbock city police department says in an affidavit released Tuesday that 19-year-old Hollis Daniels III wasn't handcuffed while campus police officer Floyd East Jr. was processing him Monday.

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.

Daniels was recaptured Monday evening following a foot chase near the police station. Bonds says he had the body camera and a handgun.

The affidavit says Daniels told officers he had done "something illogical" and that "he was the one that shot their friend."

University officials say East had gone to Daniels' room for a welfare check and found evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

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9:30 a.m.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he'll travel to Texas Tech University to meet with administrators and law enforcement officials following the fatal shooting of a campus police officer.

Paxton said in a statement that he'll be in Lubbock on Tuesday "to offer the entire support" of his office.

School officials say campus police took a 19-year-old student into custody after conducting a welfare check Monday and finding evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia in the student's room.

Authorities say the student, identified by the university as Hollis Daniels, was taken to the campus police station, where he pulled a gun and killed an officer.

Daniels fled but was recaptured and charged with capital murder of a peace officer.

Authorities say Daniels is from Seguin (sih-GEEN'), just east of San Antonio.

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6:30 a.m.

A 19-year-old student at a West Texas university has been charged with capital murder of a peace officer in the shooting of a campus officer at the school's police headquarters.

Texas Tech University officials identified the gunman as Hollis Daniels, who was booked into the Lubbock County jail early Tuesday. Online jail records don't indicate if he has an attorney to comment on his behalf.

The gunman fled police headquarters after mortally wounding the unidentified officer Monday night. He was later spotted by university police. A foot chase ensued and he was tackled then taken into custody.

In a statement, the university says campus police took Daniels to the police station after finding evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia in a room.

It is not clear if Daniels had the gun on him at that point, or if he took the weapon from an officer.

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12:30 a.m.

Authorities have arrested a 19-year-old student accused of fatally shooting a Texas Tech University police officer at the campus police station.

University officials identified the suspect Monday night as Hollis Daniels.

In a statement, the university says campus police made a student welfare check Monday evening and — upon entering the room — found evidence of drugs and drug paraphernalia. Officers then brought the suspect to the police station.

While at the station, Texas Tech Police Chief Kyle Bonath says the suspect pulled out a gun and shot the officer. The suspect was later apprehended near the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum.

Additional information was not immediately available.

Texas Tech officials initially issued a lockdown alert to students on social media, urging those on campus "to take shelter in a safe location."

News from © The Associated Press, 2017
The Associated Press

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