On Monday, elpasoproud.com reported that the family of Floyd East, Jr. released a statement.
Officer East lost his life in the line of duty on October 9. He was shot and killed inside the Texas Tech police station.
A student, Hollis Daniels, was arrested less than two hours after the shooting, and as of Monday, Daniels remained in the Lubbock County Detention Center for a charge of capital murder.
“We are eternally thankful for the kindness and support we’ve received from the Lubbock and El Paso communities,” the family said. “It warmed our hearts to see the hundreds of people who turned out for the processions and memorials in both cities.”
East was working in Lubbock. He had previously been employed at the Texas Tech University HSC’s El Paso campus.
“The overwhelming show of support in both Lubbock and El Paso tells us Floyd did the right thing. We are comforted by your love and kindness, and proud to be part of the communities that Floyd served,” the family said.
The following is the full text of the family’s statement:
On Oct. 9, we lost Floyd East Jr., a beloved father, husband, brother and son. The past few weeks have been difficult for our family as we come to terms with his passing. The weeks, months and years ahead will be difficult as well.
As anyone who has lost a loved one knows, grief is crushing. It swallows you into darkness and despair. It robs you of hope.
But the outpouring of love for our family during this time has lifted us up and delivered the hope we need as we cope with our loss.
We are eternally thankful for the kindness and support we’ve received from the Lubbock and El Paso communities. It warmed our hearts to see the hundreds of people who turned out for the processions and memorials in both cities. And we truly appreciate the kind words, cards, flowers, prayers and other beautiful gestures we’ve received from friends and strangers alike.
We also want to express our gratitude to the Texas Tech Police Departments in Lubbock and El Paso; the students, faculty and staff of Texas Tech University in Lubbock and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso; and the community of law enforcement and first responders who came from across Texas and across the country to show their support to Floyd and our family.
Floyd was a dedicated police officer who truly cared for the communities he worked in. He chose law enforcement as a career because he wanted to be part of the effort to keep cities safe — to make them great places to live and raise a family.
The overwhelming show of support in both Lubbock and El Paso tells us Floyd did the right thing. We are comforted by your love and kindness, and proud to be part of the communities that Floyd served.
(elpasoproud.com contributed to this report.)
