Only a few days left in 2017, and there were a lot of things that made headlines this year. Let’s look at all that happened in Lubbock:
Texas Tech student Hollis Daniels was charged with capital murder after allegedly shooting and killing Texas Tech peace officer Floyd East Jr. Campus went on lockdown for several hours as police searched for Daniels. Daniels is awaiting trial now and could face the death penalty.
Police took their roles to new heights after being called to a potential bomb threat at Happy State Bank. The device was determined to be non-functioning, but the suspect got away with some stolen money on a bike. Police are still looking for the suspect.
In Clovis, New Mexico, two people died and four others were seriously injured after a mass shooting at a Clovis library. A teenager is charged with two counts of murder in the first degree.
A Lubbock soldier was honored at Frenship High School after dying in the line of service. Soon after, the military ruled his death a homicide. Evidence of strangulation puts two Navy Seals as persons of interest. That case is still under investigation.
Sometimes, national news impacts us right here in Lubbock. A country music festival turned deadly: 58 were killed and hundreds injured in a mass shooting in Las Vegas. One of the survivors was a recent Texas Tech graduate, Danae Gibbs.
Hurricane Harvey devastated the Texas coast. Although Lubbock wasn’t affected by the severe weather, the people of West Texas stepped in quickly to help their southern neighbors by donating food and anything else to the coast.
A missing man’s body was found after his family searched for him for months. Police found Jacob Duffee’s remains in a storm drain and took Duffee’s former employee into custody.
2017 didn’t just bring bad news. We also saw Lubbock’s generosity and compassion.
A Lubbock man traveled to Washington, D.C. to see Donald Trump’s inauguration and left a waitress a $450 tip. He did this after he felt his Trump hat was making the fellow customers and his waitress uncomfortable. That tip was left with a note that said, “We may come from different cultures and may disagree on certain issues. But if everyone would share their smile and kindness, like your beautiful smile. Our country will come together as one people. Not race. Not gender. Just Americans. God Bless.”
We all know a total solar eclipse happened this year, and it was visible across the United States. But the event was even more special for several South Plains veterans, who trekked up to Nebraska to see the eclipse in its totality. It served as a visual reminder to veterans that the darkness doesn’t last forever.
Garth Brooks made his way to West Texas and performed at the United Supermarkets Arena to all his fans in Lubbock.
Lastly, Patrick Mahomes was drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs after playing quarterback for Texas Tech. He starts in his first regular season game on New Year’s Eve.
There was much more that happened during 2017, but these were some of the biggest stories across the South Plains.
