Texas Tech University Shooter Arrested After Killing Campus Officer
8:15 PM PT -- Police found the shooter still on campus and took him alive. According to campus police the incident began with a welfare check on a student. Officers say they found drugs and drug paraphernalia, and took the student, Hollis Daniels, into custody.
While he was at the police station, cops say Daniels pulled a gun and shot and killed an officer. It's unclear if the gun was his or belonged to an officer.
6:54 PM PT -- A campus police officer has been shot and killed. A SWAT team is currently looking for the shooter, who is described as 6 feet tall, 140 lbs with red hair and blue eyes wearing a white T and blue jeans. He reportedly fled in a vehicle.
Texas Tech University is currently on lockdown as an active shooter is reportedly on the loose.
We’re getting reports of an active shooter at the @TexasTech police station @KAMCNews pic.twitter.com/rlUl7qoM8G
@elizabethlanetv
The university's Twitter account tweeted a warning to students and faculty late Monday saying there was a shooting at the TTU Police Department, and that the shooter was at large. They also told people on campus to take shelter.
A shooting has been reported at TTU Police Department. Shooter is at large. The campus is on lockdown. Take shelter. https://t.co/jOFvYnGgL6
@TexasTech
The reported shooting comes on the heels of the Vegas massacre, where shooter Stephen Paddock gunned down more than 50 people and left hundreds more injured.
Story developing ...
See also
Vegas Halloween Stores Come Buy a Toy Gun And Trick or Treat Away
The Las Vegas mass shooting and the horrific carnage it left behind hasn't put a damper on Vegas Halloween stores -- realistic looking toy guns are still for sale.
We called a bunch of stores in the area and they say they'll continue pushing toy guns ... but with a new ground rule. Customers were permitted in the past to test and play with the fake weapons in the store ... that's no longer the case, because they feel it will scare other customers, especially kids.
The bigger point ... these toys guns are still for sale, which means kids will be brandishing them out on the street on Halloween night, which is a scary proposition given what happened last Sunday.
What's unclear ... will customers and soon-to-be Halloweeners actually buy these fake weapons?
See also
Las Vegas Mass Shooting Paddock Acted Alone in His Room
Stephen Paddock was alone in his room when he carried out the mass shooting ... according to Las Vegas Metro Police.
Cops just provided an update on the mass shooting investigation and said they're confident "there was not another shooter in that room." Cops, however, are still investigating whether anyone else may have known about the attack before it was carried out.
The cops are not saying definitively there was no other shooter.
As we reported ... the FBI's already interviewed Paddock's girlfriend, and she told them she knew nothing beforehand. LV Metro Police had previously released some body cam footage of the disturbing scene.
At least 59 people died and over 500 were injured in Sunday's shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival.
See also
Sheryl Crow Fire Politicians!!! If Gun Laws Don't Change
Sheryl Crow is taking a bold stance in the country music world -- saying it's time performers and fans reconsider their outlook on guns, especially semi-automatic ones.
We got Sheryl at LAX Thursday and asked her how the country music community will respond to the Las Vegas mass shooting. Her answer was anything but vanilla, and she certainly wasn't trying to placate country music's conservative base.
Sheryl, who's famously liberal, aims her gun control frustrations directly at Washington in this clip -- and it sounds like she thinks other artists should do the same.
See also
Austin City Limits Festival Killer Mike ... I'm Nervous About Performing
The Austin City Limits Festival starts tonight, and there are some very nervous performers in the wake of Sunday night's Vegas massacre.
Killer Mike concedes he's got the jitters about his headlining gig, being a husband and a father, but he's going to power through his performance Sunday night. He also says he understands ... some, possibly many would-be festivalgoers are going to stay away, and he can't blame them.
That said, we're told law enforcement will blanket the area around Zilker Park. In addition to patrols on foot, bike, car and ATV, the Counter Assault Strike Team will be out in force.
We're also told cops will be all over any buildings in the line of sight of the festival. Check out the building we circled. The only building that's close is a condo complex.
See also
Vegas Shooter Stephen Paddock Adamant Chicago Hotel Rooms Had View of Lollapalooza
Stephen Paddock called a Chicago hotel he had booked for Lollapalooza back in August to tell them that he wanted someone to call if, before check-in, he couldn't get a view room -- a room that overlooked the venue.
TMZ broke the story ... Paddock booked 2 rooms at the Blackstone Hotel, one on August 1 and another on August 3. The concert -- which drew a total of around 400,000 people, started on the 3rd.
Paddock booked the rooms through a third party -- Expedia. Our sources say he then called the hotel and asked for a view room. We're told the hotel does not guarantee view rooms, but for some reason in the hotel computer system there's a note that guaranteed Paddock a view room.
We're told the hotel is now trying to figure out why someone on the staff broke policy by guaranteeing him a room with a view.
It appears Paddock didn't know he got what he was after -- a guaranteed view room -- because the notes in the computer say if he couldn't get a room with a view he wanted a heads up before arriving.
As it turned out, Paddock never showed.
See also
Dan Bilzerian Searched Vegas Police Truck While Under Fierce Gunfire
This incredibly intense video shows Dan Bilzerian frantically searching inside a police truck Sunday night as terrified concertgoers ducked for cover from the hail of bullets.
Dan -- the gun enthusiast getting roasted on social media for running away from the massacre -- is seen in this video running with a panicked group and hiding behind an unmanned Las Vegas Metro PD truck ... in the shadow of Mandalay Bay.
The video's intense -- some people are covered in blood, while others angrily debate whether to remain hiding there or make a run for it. Dan seemed adamant about taking matters into his own hands ... as he rummaged through the police unit, clearly looking for a firearm.
It's unclear if the vid was recorded before or after Bilzerian begged a cop for a gun.
See also
Stephen Paddock Booked Hotel Overlooking Lollapalooza 2 Months Before Massacre
Stephen Paddock had his sights set on Lollapalooza in Chicago and even booked 2 rooms in a hotel that overlooked the massive outdoor venue ... TMZ has learned.
Check out this pic of a computer screen at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, located across the street from the venue, Grant Park, where 400,000 people -- including Malia Obama -- squeezed in over 4 days to watch big musical acts.
Paddock booked one room for August 1, 2017, 2 days before the August 3 kickoff. Paddock then booked a second room for an August 3 arrival. Both rooms had an August 6 checkout ... that's when Lollapalooza ended.
The hotel directly overlooked the main stage as well as several adjoining stages. It also overlooks the main entrance and exit where thousands of people file through. And the hotel had a bird's-eye view of the crowd. We're told Paddock specifically requested both rooms be a "view room" which only face Grant Park, where the concert was being held. And here's the scariest part ... it's difficult if not impossible to flee because of Lake Michigan. Sources tell TMZ Paddock had never booked a room at the hotel before, nor had his girlfriend.
Our sources say Paddock never showed.
If his plan was to wreak havoc on Lollapalooza the way he did 2 months later in Vegas, it shows the murderous plot was long-standing.
See also
Sarah Silverman NRA Buys Votes to Divide Us, But We All Want Same Thing
Sarah Silverman is railing against the NRA and laying blame at its feet for unnecessarily dividing our country when it comes to gun control.
We got Sarah at LAX Wednesday and asked if she thinks America will finally do something about gun control following the Las Vegas massacre. Her short answer -- NO!
But she elaborated ... telling us why she thinks the NRA is really spending so much cash lobbying politicians. It's not only about guns or hunting or even the 2nd Amendment -- to her they've got another agenda.
See also
Dan Bilzerian Begs Vegas Cops Give Me a Gun!!!
Dan Bilzerian begged cops to hand him a gun as the Las Vegas shooter sprayed bullets at concertgoers ... and it resulted in a heated confrontation.
Dan -- who flaunts his arsenal of weapons -- has been skewered on social media for running from the massacre. That's why this video is so interesting ... Dan actually wants to join forces to take down the murderer, but cops weren't having it.
DECEMBER 2014
Listen closely ... Dan asks a heavily armed Vegas cop for one of his guns, and the cop recoils ... he seems insulted that some random guy would dare ask him for a weapon.
Dan pulls out his wallet, appearing to show cops he has the right to pack heat, and screams, "Give me a gun!" The cop fires back, "No, get the f*** away from me right now."
See also
T.I. Assault Rifles Still Okay to Me! If Bad Guys Have Them, I Want Them
T.I. is standing his ground on gun laws, saying there's still a NEED for Americans to own assault weapons ... even though he can't own them himself.
We got Tip leaving Catch L.A. Wednesday night and asked him if the Las Vegas massacre makes him second guess security at his concerts, or his thoughts on gun control. Perfect guy to ask, really ... considering he did time for illegal possession of machine guns and silencers.
T.I.'s faith in the 2nd Amendment isn't shaken after the Vegas tragedy -- in his eyes, there's at least one damn good reason why law-abiding citizens have to have high-powered weapons, like an AR-15.
He's down for better screening though, and not only for guns. Yep, Trump cheap shot in 3, 2 ...
See also
Rosie O'Donnell We Have a Gun Crisis!!! Not Talking Gay Blood Ban
Rosie O'Donnell isn't as pissed as Lance Bass about gay men not being able to immediately donate blood after a tragedy -- she says the nation's gun crisis is the bigger issue right now.
We got Rosie Tuesday leaving LAX where she had zero enthusiasm for our photog's effort to follow up on Lance calling out the FDA for its 12-month blood donation ban on sexually active gay men.
How is it STILL illegal for gays to donate blood??!! I want to donate and I'm not allowed. 😤
@LanceBass
She's clear on the history of the blood ban, and while she has compassion for Lance ... Rosie's mind was more focused on a guy being able to shoot 500-plus people with weapons that are far too easy to get.
See also
Mass Murderer Stephen Paddock Younger Brother Has Long Rap Sheet Criminal Threats, Arson ...
The younger brother of Stephen Paddock has a rap sheet of a hardened criminal ... light-years different from the brother who slaughtered dozens of innocent people.
Bruce Paddock currently lives in California, but he's led a nomadic life. TMZ has pulled court docs which show he's been a regular in the criminal justice system. Among his arrests ...
-- Criminal threats
-- Arson
-- Vandalism
-- Petty theft
-- Burglary
-- Weed
-- Driving on a suspended license
-- Contempt
It's unclear how many of these resulted in convictions. We know for sure the 57-year-old was convicted of petty theft with a prior, and vandalism. Don't confuse Bruce with Eric, the Paddock brother living in Florida, who's been speaking to the media.
BTW ... Paddock's father was a bank robber who was once on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List.
See also
Billy Baldwin You Gotta Be Kidding ... People Don't Have an Absolute Right to Possess Guns
Billy Baldwin thinks anyone who gets up in arms over the right to bear arms is grossly misguided.
We got the second-youngest Baldwin brother Tuesday at LAX, and he scoffs at the NRA and anyone else who thinks the 2nd Amendment gives people an absolute right to possess any type of weapon they want.
He also has high praise for Jimmy Kimmel, who he has developed a voice more powerful than the President's or members of Congress ... first on the subject of health care, and now gun control.
See also
Las Vegas Massacre Body Cam Footage Shows Disturbing Scene After Shooting Began
The mayhem that ensued in the minutes after mass murderer Stephen Paddock began firing at a crowd from his Mandalay Bay hotel room was captured by a cop's body cam ... and it's terrifying.
Las Vegas PD just released footage from one of its officers working with others to try to determine where the gunfire is coming from ... while also trying to direct people to safety.
The video of the chaos while gunshots continue to sound in the distance is disturbing.
During the news conference, investigators said they still haven't ruled out anything in relation to the shooting. Paddock killed 59 people and injured more than 500 others.
See also
Mass Murderer Stephen Paddock Brother Off the Rails In Bizarre Interview
The brother of mass murderer Stephen Paddock lost it Tuesday during a bizarre, rambling interview.
Eric Paddock spoke with CBS News and broke down, unable to talk for a time, before his thoughts about his brother meandered.
He says his family is torn apart over the deeds of his brother, and this isn't the Stephen they knew.
Eric says his brother transferred $100k to the Philippines for legit reasons ... to care for his girlfriend. Authorities say she's still a person of interest, but Eric thinks his brother manipulated her to leave the country so she wasn't around when he fired into the Vegas crowd.
Eric also says his brother was rich and generous with his money, sometimes spending thousands of dollars on sushi for friends and relatives.
He then went into a rant about his mom. It's all over the place.