PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — The recovery continues for Port St. Lucie Police Sergeant Erik LeVasseur, a nearly three-decade veteran of law enforcement, who remains in critical condition after being shot twice in the face while on duty Monday evening. Sergeant LeVasseur is currently in a medically induced coma.

The longtime Port St. Lucie Police officer was shot during a call in the Town Park community in Tradition. He was among six officers who responded to a disturbance—described by officials as a mental health-related neighbor dispute—at a home. A man inside the house, armed with an assault rifle, opened fire on officers as they approached. That man was fatally shot in the exchange of gunfire, and Sergeant LeVasseur was injured. Officials stated LeVasseur was struck near his nose, thankfully avoiding any brain and spinal injuries.

Two days later, the community is feeling the weight of this tragedy. “I’m sorry things like that happen. People are just doing their job Every time I hear that, it’s really sad,” said Port St. Lucie resident Obdulia Diggs.

Sergeant LeVasseur is scheduled for a third surgery this week to remove a piece of shrapnel from his eye. For that delicate operation, he is being transported to another hospital before returning to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce for continued care.

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Nearby restaurants and the Sergeant’s union have stepped up to help Levasseur’s family. Sergeant Jeremy Lewis with the Sergeant’s Union provided an update via email:

“We remain fully committed to supporting Sgt. LeVasseur and his family during this difficult time. The Union has launched an official GoFundMe campaign partnered with FOP (Fraternal Order of Police), as well as a Meal Train initiative, to assist with their immediate needs.”

“There should never be a police officer who is in charge of taking care of us, being attacked, and then, so bad that he had to go back,” said Fort Pierce resident Cesar Cortez.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department provided an update that the third surgery is underway. We will continue to follow developments and provide more details as they become available.

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