DA: Man pointed gun before officer shot him

The man Clovis police shot on Wednesday spent a week threatening his ex-girlfriend before breaking into her house and sexually assaulting her, court records show.

Paul Villanueva, 23, of Clovis, was shot after he tried to run out the back door of the woman's house and collided with police. Officer Kevin Littlejohn shot Villanueva in the abdomen after a hand-to-hand struggle in which Villanueva pointed a .22-caliber semi-automatic pistol at the officer's head, District Attorney Matt Chandler said.

Paul Villaneva is charged with multiple felonies, including kidnapping, sexual assault and assaulting a police officer.

Villanueva has been charged with multiple felonies, including kidnapping, sexual assault and assaulting a police officer. He was listed in critical but stable condition Friday evening at a Lubbock hospital.

Chandler said Villanueva broke into the ex-girlfriend's house at 1121 Sheldon St. and spent an hour and a half threatening to kill her and assaulting her.

Public records show Villanueva was arrested in March for battery on a household member. Chandler said part of his bond agreement in that case was a no-contact order with his ex-girlfriend.

According to an arrest affidavit, Villanueva sent threatening texts to his ex-girlfriend for a week before Wednesday's break-in and she stayed at her parents' house Tuesday as a safety precaution.

Police were called to the house Wednesday by a man who identified himself as the victim's current boyfriend.

Upon arrival at the victim's residence, police said they spotted Villanueva's vehicle and called for backup. A canine unit arrived and officers obtained a key to the residence from the landlord.

According to the affidavit, police announced their presence and commanded the occupants to exit the house or a police dog would be sent in. Soon after, the victim ran from the house and told police Villanueva had a gun.

At that time, Officer Littlejohn heard Sgt. Steve Cope, who was in the rear of the house, yell at someone to get down. Littlejohn ran to the rear of the house to assist Cope, and upon entering the back gate, physically ran into Villanueva, records show. In the ensuing struggle, the two ended up on the ground. The struggle reached the alley, where Villanueva stood up, gun in hand, facing Littlejohn. Littlejohn got to his knees and fired two shots. One hit Villanueva in the lower abdomen and he fell to the ground with his gun still in his hand, records show.

Chandler said if convicted, Villanueva could face up to 49 years in prison.

Charges filed against Paul Villanueva, 23, of Clovis:

• aggravated burglary
• aggravated assault on a household member with a deadly weapon
• first degree kidnapping
• criminal sexual assault with a deadly weapon (two counts)
• aggravated assault on a peace officer (four counts)
• resisting, evading and obstructing an officer.