As Hollis Daniels faces a life sentence after a Capital Murder trial, a video capturing his arrest after the heinous crime is circulating widely on the internet, shedding light on the tragic incident.
Background of Hollis Daniels
Hollis Daniels, formerly known as Hollis Alvin James Reid Daniels, was a 19-year-old college student at Texas Tech University when he committed the crime. His father, Dany Daniels, held a position as a Seguin City Councilman.
On October 9, 2017, Daniels fatally shot Texas Tech police officer Floyd East Jr. at the university’s police headquarters while authorities were questioning him as a narcotics suspect. Daniels later pleaded guilty to the deadly shooting.
The Viral Video Explained
The viral video at the center of discussions captures the last moments of Officer Floyd East Jr.’s life, recorded by his body camera. The 30-minute footage was played during the trial, providing a chilling account of the events leading up to the officer’s murder.
In the video, officers initially took Daniels into custody in his dorm room, where they detected the smell of marijuana. The footage revealed officers searching the room for evidence related to a reported gunshot the previous night, finding prescription pills and marijuana paraphernalia.
Officer Floyd East Jr. was present to complete paperwork for Daniels’ arrest on a drug charge. In a shocking turn, Daniels asked about the officer’s family before unexpectedly pulling out a hidden pistol and fatally shooting him in the head.
After the shooting, the video captured sounds of Daniels grabbing the officer’s body camera as he fled from the Texas Tech police station. Law enforcement captured him about 90 minutes later, and he has been in custody since that day.
Criminal Record and Sentencing
Hollis Daniels had a criminal record leading up to the tragic incident. He faced charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia in September 2016, and later, on August 6, 2017, he was arrested for failing to pay a speeding ticket.
On October 10, 2017, he was charged with the capital murder of Officer Floyd East Jr. After a trial that lasted three days, the jurors sentenced Daniels to life in prison without parole. Despite pleading guilty, the jury opted against the death penalty, considering Daniels’ troubled history with drugs and mental health issues.
The trial exposed Daniels’ turbulent past, but certain details, such as how he obtained the weapon used in the crime, remain undisclosed by authorities.
As the video of Hollis Daniels committing the crime goes viral, discussions about the case continue on platforms like Reddit, with people reflecting on the tragedy and its aftermath.
