On Thursday morning, Legacy Traditional School – East Tucson faced a frightening security breach when a man armed with a knife and a loaded handgun entered the campus. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the intruder was detained without incident.
The incident unfolded around 9 a.m. when a staff member noticed 31-year-old Daniel Hollander acting erratically in the parking lot. The staff member immediately alerted a uniformed Tucson police officer stationed at the school. However, by the time the officer arrived at the parking lot, Hollander had entered the campus through an open gate and made his way into the cafeteria.
Hollander was later found in the school gym, which was occupied by students and staff. Witnesses described him as sitting and talking to himself. The quick action of the school safety officer—a Tucson police officer filling in for a school resource officer—led to Hollander’s detention without further escalation. A search revealed he was carrying a knife and a loaded handgun.
Hollander now faces several serious charges, including attempted terrorism, interfering with an educational institution, misconduct involving weapons on school grounds, and first-degree burglary. He has been booked into the Pima County Adult Detention Center.
State Superintendent Tom Horne commended the officer’s swift and decisive response. “The School Safety Officer who sought out and arrested this suspect deserves the highest praise,” Horne said in a statement.
The school, located at 9290 E. Golf Links Road in Tucson, remained secure throughout the incident, ensuring the safety of its students and staff. The situation underscores the importance of having trained law enforcement personnel stationed at schools, a program funded by the Arizona Department of Education.
This incident serves as a reminder of the critical role that vigilant staff and responsive safety officers play in maintaining the security of educational institutions. The community can take solace in knowing that immediate action prevented a potentially tragic outcome.
