Officer recounts phone calls with suspect

Erica D. Johnson

Friday, Feb. 7, 2003 | 10:05 a.m.

A Metro Police officer on Thursday detailed phone conversations he had with the so-called "rooftop sniper" during a Jan. 3 shooting rampage downtown.

Murder suspect Ricky Horne, 31, called the front office of the South Cove apartments shortly after the first shots were fired, Metro officer Edward Reese said at Horne's preliminary hearing in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Police and SWAT negotiators had set up a command post there.

"We asked him why he was shooting at us," Reese testified. "He said he was having a bad day or something like that."

Horne faces multiple charges, including murder and attempted murder, in the shooting spree near Fremont and 15th streets that left one man dead, another critically injured and a Metro officer wounded.

Horne, who allegedly fired shots at strangers and police from the roof of the complex, was arrested after a three-hour standoff with SWAT negotiators.

Police say Horne admitted to being high on Ecstasy during the incident.

Horne gave Reese his name and date of birth during the series of phone conversations, during which gunshots were audible, Reese testified.

The phone calls lasted five to seven minutes, he said.

Horne made the first call after Bryan Ricks, 42, was killed in a nearby alleyway.

Police had set up a second command post in a stairwell 20 to 30 feet from the building, Reese said.

"He wanted to know about the person in the alleyway," Reese said. "He wanted to know whether he was dead or not. I told him I couldn't go check because he was still firing at people."

Under cross-examination by Deputy Special Public Defender Gloria Navarro, Reese said an agitated Horne told police he didn't want to shoot them, but he would if he had to.

"He said if we came out of the building, he'd shoot us," Reese testified. "He said he wanted the media there before he'd turn himself in."

Police say Horne, who had recently moved to Las Vegas from Pittsburgh, was upset that he could not find a job.

Justice of the Peace Doug Smith is expected Feb. 11 to decide if there is enough evidence to bound Horne over to District Court.

Horne is being held at the Clark County Detention Center without bail.