PORT ST. LUCIE – Police Sgt. Erik LeVasseur, who was shot in the face last month as officers investigated a disturbance in the Tradition community, was released Jan. 7 from the hospital, according to police.
LeVasseur, 55, was shot Dec. 1 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.
Niemczyk on Dec. 9 said LeVasseur left a medical facility in Fort Pierce wearing his uniform. Police shared a video of him walking with his wife, Jennifer, with the help of a cane.
Niemczyk said it was important for him to be in uniform.
“He wanted to walk out of that hospital as close to how he walked into work on the evening of Dec. 1,” Niemczyk said.
Niemczyk said LeVasseur remembers “every detail” of the incident and would like to return to work.
“He’s feeling incredibly grateful and positive and he’s very optimistic and he’s very confident that he will be back to work and he will make a full recovery,” Niemczyk said.
After the incident, police said LeVasseur’s eyes “sustained significant trauma” and he had no vision. He had two surgeries on his eyes, and three additional surgeries to his facial area, Niemczyk said. Additional medical procedures are expected.
“He’s reporting no vision in the right eye and shadowy vision in the left eye,” Niemczyk said. “I think that’s a remarkable improvement from what we had seen early on, and we hope that that continues to improve.”
LeVasseur initially was hospitalized in HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, and was flown Dec. 2 to an undisclosed hospital and underwent surgery Dec. 3 to have shrapnel removed.
Niemczyk thanked a variety of doctors and medical professionals, as well as surrounding law enforcement agencies and state Sen. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, for help.
“Right now he needs to rest and he’s resting at home with his family,” Niemczyk said of LeVasseur. “I believe he will be back and we’ll see to what capacity, how soon.”
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 has 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 returned fire, Niemczyk said.
Riccio died after officers shot him. Riccio fired 10 shots; officers 62, police said.
(This story was updated with video and additional information.)
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: Police sergeant shot in face released from hospital
Reporting by Will Greenlee, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
