Florida Police Sergeant Shot in the Face Twice Released From Hospital
Key Highlights
- Sergeant Erik Levasseur was shot twice in the face while responding to a call in December and has now returned home after over a month in the hospital.
- He underwent multiple surgeries to remove shrapnel and repair damage to his eyesight, with the full extent of his recovery still uncertain.
- The police department and city community have expressed strong support and prayers for Levasseur’s recovery and future return to duty.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A Port St. Lucie Police Department sergeant has returned home after being hospitalized for more than a month following an on-duty shooting, marking a significant step in his recovery.
Sgt. Erik Levasseur was released from the hospital and returned home 37 days after he was shot twice in the face while responding to a call on Dec. 1 in the Lake Park neighborhood of Tradition, according to WPBF-TV.
Police said Levasseur underwent multiple surgeries to remove shrapnel from his eyes and to repair damage to his eyesight. The department has not released details on the extent of his injuries or the long-term impact on his vision, and officials said the full scope of his recovery remains unclear.
In a video shared by the department Thursday, Levasseur is shown leaving the hospital alongside his wife, walking past hospital staff and Port St. Lucie police officers. The video includes remarks from Police Chief Leo Niemczyk emphasizing departmental and city support for the injured sergeant.
“I want you to know that your PD and your city family have you in their thoughts and prayers and we're thinking about you each and every day,” Niemczyk said in the video.
The footage also captures Levasseur acknowledging supporters before departing for home and briefly speaking over the police radio.
“I’ll be back,” Levasseur said.
No additional information was released regarding the status of the investigation into the shooting or Levasseur’s anticipated timeline for recovery or return to duty.