Man who shot officer: ‘I hope he dies’

A man who shot a police officer with the officer’s own gun Friday night said, “I hope he dies,” before he was taken to jail, according to his arrest report.

Joshua Paulo, 25, shot Las Vegas police officer Frank Harris in the leg as the officer struggled to arrest Paulo on burglary charges, the report said.

Police said Paulo and Dylan Dybczynski, 19, were burglarizing Prestige Plumbing at 4725 Quality Court, near Tropicana Avenue and Decatur Boulevard, about 10:30 p.m. The owner, who was asleep in a motorhome parked in the garage of the business, was awoken by the alarm.

Officers Harris and Matthew Kovacich responded to the call and found Paulo and Dybczynski stealing copper, extension cords and tools from work trucks in the secured lot of the business, the report said.

Harris was placing Paulo in handcuffs when Paulo suddenly swung his arm and forced Harris into a truck. As the pair struggled, Harris’ gun fired and a bullet struck the officer in the leg, the report said. The owner, Bernard “Skip” Gelisse, witnessed the shooting and called 911 again.

The officer was briefly hospitalized but was not badly hurt. It’s unclear how the gun fired.

“At this time, we do not know how the firearm was discharged. If the suspect had his hand on it, or if the officer did, that will be determined through the investigation,” Homicide Capt. Brett Primas said Friday.

Dybczynski ran from police but was quickly taken into custody by the other officers.

Several officers heard Paulo say he hoped Harris died in the shooting.

Paulo was booked on multiple felony charges, including attempted murder and burglary.

Contact reporter Mike Blasky at mblasky@reviewjournal.com. Follow @blasky on Twitter.