Port St. Lucie police officer shot in the face remains in critical condition
SAID OVERNIGHT? GOOD MORNING. NATALIE. CURRENTLY, SERGEANT ERIC LEVASSEUR IS HERE AT THE ICU BUT IS IN SERIOUS CONDITION AND ON A RESPIRATOR. NOW, THIS COMES AFTER SIX OFFICERS, INCLUDING TWO IN TRAINING, RESPONDED TO A CALL IN THE TOWN PARK COMMUNITY. IN TRADITION, JUST AFTER 6 P.M. YESTERDAY AFTER THE SUSPECT’S MOTHER CALLED FOR HELP AFTER CLAIMING HER SON ABUSED SIMULATED MARIJUANA. THE POLICE CHIEF DID NOT CONFIRM IF DRUGS WERE INVOLVED IN THIS CASE, BUT THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING INTO WHETHER MENTAL HEALTH PLAYED A ROLE HERE. OFFICERS APPROACHED THE HOME. A MAN HOLDING AN AK 47 THEN APPEARED FROM THE GARAGE DOOR. THAT’S WHEN GUNFIRE WAS EXCHANGED AND WHEN SERGEANT LEVASSEUR, EXCUSE ME, WAS SHOT TWICE IN THE FACE, BY HIS NOSE AND BELOW NEAR HIS CHEEK. HOWEVER, THOSE BULLETS DID NOT REACH HIS SPINE. THE SUSPECT, 32 YEAR OLD FRANKIE RICCIO, DIED AT THE SCENE. EVERY OFFICER WHO PUTS ON THIS UNIFORM EVERY DAY UNDERSTANDS THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY COULD BE IN THIS SITUATION. WE’RE ALL GRATEFUL THAT THAT WE’RE ALL GOING, YOU KNOW, WE’RE ALIVE AND THAT THE SERGEANT’S ALIVE RIGHT NOW. DEFINITELY SOME DIVINE INTERVENTION WAS WITH HIM LAST NIGHT. MEDICAL STAFF AT HCA FLORIDA LONGWOOD MEDICAL CENTER IN FORT PIERCE ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE SERGEANT’S RECOVERY. RIGHT NOW, FOUR OFFICERS HAVE BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE. STANDARD PROTOCOL IN THESE SITUATIONS, BUT THE FDLE IS THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR IN THIS CASE, LIVE I
Port St. Lucie police officer shot in the face remains in critical condition
Updated: 6:59 PM EST Dec 2, 2025
The Port St. Lucie Police Department released on Tuesday evening an update on one of its officers who was shot while responding to a call.The police department said Sgt. Erik Levasseur remains in critical condition. Earlier on Tuesday, the police department said Levasseur had a second surgery to repair his facial injuries. His jaw was wired shut for recovery and a tracheostomy was done to keep his airway secure.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsMedical officials placed Levasseur in a medically induced coma. Physicians found the presence of shrapnel in his retina, which is a layer of tissue in the eye.The shrapnel requires removal by a specialized surgical team. The police department said plans are being made to transfer Levasseur to another trauma center equipped to perform the procedure.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Sgt. Levasseur was with five other officers when he was shot twice after responding to a call Monday night on the 11000 block of SW Lake Park Drive in the Town Park Community in Tradition.The suspect, Frankie Salvatore Riccio, 32, was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
The Port St. Lucie Police Department released on Tuesday evening an update on one of its officers who was shot while responding to a call.
The police department said Sgt. Erik Levasseur remains in critical condition.
City of Port St. Lucie
Port St. Lucie Police Department Sgt. Erik Levasseur
Earlier on Tuesday, the police department said Levasseur had a second surgery to repair his facial injuries. His jaw was wired shut for recovery and a tracheostomy was done to keep his airway secure.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
Medical officials placed Levasseur in a medically induced coma. Physicians found the presence of shrapnel in his retina, which is a layer of tissue in the eye.
The shrapnel requires removal by a specialized surgical team. The police department said plans are being made to transfer Levasseur to another trauma center equipped to perform the procedure.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Sgt. Levasseur was with five other officers when he was shot twice after responding to a call Monday night on the 11000 block of SW Lake Park Drive in the Town Park Community in Tradition.
The suspect, Frankie Salvatore Riccio, 32, was shot and killed during an exchange of gunfire.