Man admits opening fire on police in videotaped confession

Hours after opening fire on three Lombard police officers, injuring one, Paul J. Grygo emerged from a drunken haze with the realization of what he had done.

"I shot a cop. I can't believe I did this," he said in a videotaped police interview played Wednesday in court. "I'm sorry. That doesn't mean anything, I know. But, the cop I shot, he's OK? I didn't kill him."

The violence that unfolded Sept. 2, 2004, ended the promising career of Lombard police Officer Jerry O'Meara and may land Grygo in prison for the rest of his life.

A DuPage County jury listened to his videotaped and written confessions as Grygo's trial on attempted murder charges continued. Grygo, 59, faces up to 80 years behind bars.

He is accused of stealing a $7.46 bottle of vodka from a grocery store, retreating to his condo at 2201 S. Grace St., Unit 609, and, more than one hour later, emptying his .38-caliber revolver while shooting at the three officers.

His defense team argues Grygo was legally insane at the time, basically meaning he could not distinguish between right from wrong, and should not be held legally accountable.

Dr. Tony A. Fletcher, a clinical neuropsychologist, began Wednesday testifying for the defense. It is his opinion that Grygo suffers from dementia as a result of his chronic alcoholism.

But does that excuse Grygo's conduct? On the videotape, Grygo said he had never been hospitalized for mental problems and wasn't taking any medication. He did not have a prior criminal history, other than a drunken driving and retail theft arrest one year earlier.

Naperville police Detective Michael Cross interviewed Grygo after the shooting. Cross, as a member of the DuPage County Major Crimes Task Force, testified that Grygo said he knew it was uniformed police officers at the other end of his door.

Grygo said he had guzzled about half of the bottle of vodka before opening fire. Grygo also told the detective he did not have any ill will against police, but he did not want to get arrested.

On the tape, Grygo said he has struggled with suicidal thoughts after his father's death and losing his job as a tool specialist, both of which occurred about three years prior.

At one point on the video tape, Grygo told Cross: "I'm not crazy; just kind of (ticked) off."

Earlier in the trial, the injured officer, Jerry O'Meara, showed the jury his scars from where the bullet entered his body, traveled through his arm and exited near his elbow.

He survived, but suffered muscle and nerve damage and wasn't able to return to active duty. The Army veteran and father of two children, along with his two colleagues, later received the department's award of valor.

Grygo was not injured when another police officer returned his gunfire. He surrendered minutes later.

The trial before DuPage Circuit Judge Kathryn Creswell continues today with the doctor's testimony. It may end Friday.