PORT ST. LUCIE — A veteran sergeant who police said was shot in the face Dec. 1 as officers investigated a disturbance in Tradition currently has no vision, though there are no concerns of brain damage, according to police said Dec. 11.
Sgt. Erik LeVasseur, 55, was shot by Frankie Salvatore Riccio, 32, who died in a shootout with officers, police have said.
The incident happened shortly after 6 p.m. on Southwest Lake Park Drive in the Town Park at Tradition gated community.
Riccio may have been under the influence of drugs when the shooting occurred, Police Chief Leo Niemczyk has said.
Surgeons on Dec. 9 removed more remains from a bullet, after shrapnel was deeper than expected.
“Sgt. Levasseur is awake, alert and remains at the Trauma Intensive Care Unit located at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital, where he continues to receive exceptional medical care,” police stated.
LeVasseur’s eyes, police said, “sustained significant trauma, and while he currently has no vision, doctors advise that it will take time, healing and potential future procedures — including eye surgeries — to better determine his long-term prognosis.”
LeVasseur initially was hospitalized in HCA Florida Lawnwood, and was flown Dec. 2 to an undisclosed hospital and underwent surgery Dec. 3 to have the shrapnel removed.
What happened?
Police received two 911 calls: one from Riccio’s mother and another from a neighbor. The neighbor told police that Riccio pointed a rifle at her and told her to go inside her home.
Before police arrived, LeVasseur interviewed Riccio’s mother over the phone. Then he organized officers up the block before he took the lead. One of five other officers was in a vehicle while four were on foot to provide cover.
Gunfire erupted before police got to the home, Niemczyk said. Police heard shots as they were approaching, the chief said. Riccio allegedly was in the garage.
The officer in the vehicle ordered Riccio to come out of the garage. Riccio stepped out and allegedly fired on LeVasseur with an AK-47. LeVasseur was in front of a next-door neighbor’s home and suffered two bullet wounds to the face.
Riccio then crossed the street to the opposite side of the police vehicle to fire on the other officers who swung around to the other side of the vehicle to avoid getting shot and return fire, Niemczyk said.
Riccio died after officers shot him. Riccio fired 10 shots; officers 62, police said.
Will Greenlee is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Will on X @OffTheBeatTweet or reach him by phone at 772-267-7926. E-mail him at will.greenlee@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Port St. Lucie police update condition of sergeant shot in face
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
