Texas Tech University Shooting: Officer Shot On Campus; Suspect Arrested

LUBBOCK, TX — A suspect was apprehended late Monday after a shooting at Texas Tech University that left a police officer dead, according to reports.

Officials identified the alleged shooter as Hollis A. Daniels, a 19-year-old freshman at the school, according to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal newspaper. The incident began after police performed a welfare check to check on the student's well-being, according to university officials. Daniels was taken in for questioning after drugs and paraphernalia were found in his dorm room, the newspaper and other media outlets report. It was then that the suspect pulled out a gun and shot an officer before fleeing, according to Texas Tech University officials.

The officer reportedly was shot in the head. Daniels fled on foot before being captured by police late Monday about an hour later.

Watch: Officer Shot at Texas Tech University; Suspect Arrested

A campus-wide lockdown was implemented immediately following the shooting as police sought the suspect. The incident occurred at around 8:30 p.m. after Daniels was brought into the police department for questioning, the newspaper reported. That's when Daniels pulled out a gun and shot the officer before fleeing, according to university officials.

The campus lockdown was lifted once Daniels was found at around 9:30 p.m. and apprehended, university officials said via Twitter.

As word spread of the officer's death, condolences were issued from various law enforcement agencies via social media from throughout the state, including messages from the University of Texas at Austin police department and the Leander force.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the officer shot and killed at Texas Tech tonight.
— UT Austin Police (@UTAustinPolice) October" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/UTAustinPo... 10, 2017

Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement after the shooting, expressing his own thoughts and prayers for the fallen officer: “First and foremost, our hearts go out to the family of the police officer killed at Texas Tech University. I have spoken to Chancellor Robert Duncan to offer my condolences, and I have mobilized the Texas Department of Public Safety to offer any assistance to the Lubbock Police Department. As the Texas Tech campus deals with this heartbreaking tragedy, Cecilia and I pray for the continued safety of the students and the entire community."

Texas Tech is among the state-funded universities compelled to comply with the "campus carry" law that took effect Aug. 1, 2016, allowing concealed handguns to be brought on campus — legislation Abbott aggressively championed leading up to its passage.

The name of the officer killed had not been released as of late Monday. Texas Tech University is located some 314 miles east of Fort Worth in northwest Texas.

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Hollis A. Daniels booking photo via Lubbock County Sheriff's Office