Port St. Lucie sergeant shot in face expected to make 'very strong recovery,' chief announces

The Port St. Lucie Police Department gave some encouraging updates Thursday on the condition of a police sergeant shot while on duty Monday night.

Sgt. Erick Levasseur, a 27-year veteran of the agency, was shot twice in the face during a gunfight with an armed suspect in the 11000 block of Southwest Lake Park Drive.

WATCH BELOW: Sergeant shot in face expected to make ‘very strong recovery’

Police Chief Leo Niemczyk said Thursday that Levasseur, 55, was flown to an undisclosed medical center to have surgery on both of his eyes.

Police said on Tuesday that the injured sergeant had his jaw wired shut for recovery and received a tracheostomy to keep his airway secure following the surgery.

Doctors said there was shrapnel in LeVasseur’s retina, which required a special team of expert surgeons, and was also placed in a medically induced coma.

WATCH BELOW: Police chief gives encouraging updates on the sergeant who was shot

Niemczyk said Thursday that Levasseur had surgery on his eyes Wednesday night to remove shrapnel. The chief said they anticipated that he would be transferred “within the next two days” to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce as he continues to recover from his wounds.

“I will say that he is spending more time right now not sedated, and he is aware and alert and writing notes and making jokes to his wife and coworkers, so our spirits are heavily lifting,” Niemczyk said.

The police chief said they anticipate that Levasseur would make a “very strong recovery” but were still “guarded and careful.”

“We’re not aware of the level of his eye function, but he is a very strong man with a very strong will,” Niemczyk said. “We feel he’s out of the woods.”

WATCH BELOW: Police release bodycam video of shooting

At Thursday’s news conference, the police chief thanked the community and fellow law enforcement for their “overwhelming” support this week.

“It’s lifted the spirits of the officers within the organization and made this endeavor a little bit more comfortable for us,” Niemczyk said.

The police chief said it’s unclear when Levasseur might be able to return to the police force, but they were “absolutely hopeful” that he would be able to.

On Tuesday, WPTV reporter Michael Hoffman spoke to a longtime friend of LeVasseur, who called him an”all-around good guy.”

A fundraising page has been created to help with Levasseur’s road to recovery.

The gunman, Frankie Salvatore Riccio, 32, was later killed by officers after Levasseur was shot.

Niemczyk said they were called to the scene by Riccio’s mother, who said her son was acting “irrational and crazy” and he had been using medical-grade marijuana for days.

(Riccio) owned about 20 weapons in total. He had a very large arsenal within his home. He had two gun safes full. He had gas masks, ballistic vests, non-perishable survival food … a flashbang,” Niemczyk said.

The police chief said Riccio used a semi-automatic Zestaw AK-47, which uses a 7.62x39mm caliber, in the shooting of the sergeant.

Riccio did not have a criminal record before the shooting, according to the police chief. Niemczyk said the suspect was in a “drug-induced” state at the time of the shooting.

During the exchange of gunfire Monday night, Niemczyk said Riccio fired 10 shots, and officers fired 62 shots.

Police said they are investigating Riccio’s online history to learn about who he was.

Port St. Lucie sergeant shot in face expected to make ‘very strong recovery,’ chief announces

Tags: