Community members from accused Texas Tech shooter's hometown speak out

Hollis Daniels comes from a well-known family in Seguin, Texas.

The folks we spoke to had nothing but kind words to say about Daniels' parents. Who both served the community in various roles.

FOX 7 looked into Daniels past and found out he had a criminal record leading up to two months ago when he was arrested in Seguin.

"This is devastating you know.  This is a small community. We don't really experience things like this," said Manuel Cevallos a former city council member.

When we spoke with Cevallos, the identity of the local man arrested for shooting and killing a Texas Tech Police Officer had just sunk in.

Nineteen-year-old Daniels is the son of a man Cevallos knows well and whom he served with on the city council.

"He was very good hearted. All of his intentions on the City Council every decision he made was for the betterment of the community for all people all different races all people. He's just an awesome individual,” said Cevallos.

Cevallos has yet another tie to the family as Daniels' mother taught his daughter at Texas Lutheran University in town.

Other locals who FOX 7 talked to in downtown square associated the family with the Palace Theater the Daniels' are said to have owned it.

Cevallos said Daniels' father Danny once offered him the theater space for a fundraiser to collect heaters for those in need.

"We did well. We were able to supply a whole bunch of heaters," said Cevallos.

The theater is easy to spot from the Daniels' home. It sites empty Tuesday with the porch light still burning.

Daniels goes by "James Reid" on social media.

This is a photo of him from Seguin ISD. Daniels graduated from Seguin High School in June of 2016.

Daniels attended Seguin High School for a year and a half. According to his Facebook page, prior to that he was enrolled at the New Braunfels Christian academy.

From there he went to Texas Tech to study communication arts.

Records show he was arrested by campus police for drug possession in Sept. of that year.

In Aug. of this year back at home Seguin police picked him up on a traffic stop for a speeding warrant.

What happened Monday night is difficult for those who knew the Daniels to wrap their minds around.

"The poor police officer's family and everything it's just sad what's going on around the country," said Cevallos.