The family of Floyd East, Jr., 48, issued a written statement Thursday. East lost his life in the line of duty on the campus of Texas Tech on Monday evening.
East had been a Texas Tech police officer on the Lubbock campus for about five months. Before that, he had been a security guard on the campus of Texas Tech HSC in El Paso.
East was shot and killed by Hollis Alvin Daniels, 19, of Seguin.
Daniels was a student who had been taken into custody at the Texas Tech Police Department for allegations of drug possession. Officials have not been specific about how Daniels was able to have a gun while under arrest. The officer was not shot with his own gun.
In addition to capital murder, Daniels was also charged with possession of a stolen gun after the shooting.
According to Texas Tech HSC in El Paso, the East family issued this statement:
“We would particularly like to thank the Texas Tech faculty, students, staff and community; Chancellor Robert Duncan; Presidents Richard Lange and Lawrence Schovanec; the staff at Prudential; and Kyle Jacobson, who set up the GoFundMe account for Officer East.
“We are also appreciative of the law enforcement personnel and organizations that have reached out and provided support, including the Lubbock Police Department; Captain Larry Clendenning and the Texas Tech Police Department; the TTPD in El Paso; the El Paso Community College Police Department; the El Paso Police Department Pebble Hills Regional Command; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.”
A memorial service for Texas Tech Police Officer Floyd East Jr. was scheduled for noon Tuesday, October 17 in the Abraham Chavez Theatre in El Paso.
The university said, “A memorial fund has been set up by Texas Tech University for Officer East’s family. Visit give2tech.com/eastmemorial to contribute.”
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