NLV cop wounds man police say pointed gun at officers

Keith Paul

Friday, Aug. 4, 2000 | 11:36 a.m.

A North Las Vegas Police officer early today shot a man who pointed a handgun at officers, police said.

Gary Harris, 30, was shot once in the right buttock about 1:20 a.m. in the 800 block of West Lake Mead Boulevard near Martin Luther King Boulevard, police said.

North Las Vegas officers were on their way to the 800 block of Hart Avenue to back up another officer, who was on a traffic stop, when they heard several gunshots, Metro Police Capt. Greg Jolley said in a press release. Metro is investigating the shooting, which occurred in its jurisdiction.

Harris is accused of pulling out a handgun and pointing the gun at the officers when they confronted him, Jolley said.

One of the North Las Vegas officers drew his handgun and fired and hit Harris, who was treated at University Medical Center and released into police custody.

Harris was booked into the Clark County jail on charges of obstructing a police officer with a weapon and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon, Jolley said.

The officer was put on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation. The officer's name was not released this morning. Department policy calls for withholding for 48 hours the names of officers involved in shootings.

North Las Vegas Police Lt. Chris Larotonda directed all questions about the shooting to Metro Police. Larotonda did say his department would be conducting an internal investigation into the shooting.

This was the third time this year a North Las Vegas Police officer has fired at a suspect. The first was on March 11 when 22-year-old Celso Paz Lopez was shot in the hip by Officer Dave Acosta.

In that case the city attorney would not release the results of a use-of-force board claiming it was a personnel matter. Acosta resigned before a decision was announced if he would be disciplined.

The second shooting incident occurred April 9 when an officer fired several rounds at the driver of a stolen car that rammed his patrol car. No one was injured.