Port St. Lucie police say injured Sergeant Erik Levasseur is improving three days after he was shot twice in the face while responding to a call in the Tradition neighborhood.Chief Leo Niemczyk provided an update Thursday afternoon, saying Levasseur underwent surgery to remove shrapnel from both eyes, a procedure completed late Wednesday night at an undisclosed hospital. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 NewsAccording to the chief, the sergeant is now awake, responsive and communicating through written notes. Niemczyk added that Levasseur has even been making jokes with family and fellow officers.Doctors believe he could be transferred back to Longwood Medical Center within the next two days.“He’s a very strong man with a very strong will, and we’re confident that he’s going to make a strong recovery at this point,” Niemczyk said.Investigators also released new details about the suspected gunman, 32-year-old Frankie Salvatore Riccio. Police say Riccio had no prior criminal history or calls for service. However, on the night of the shooting, officers received two separate 911 calls, one from Riccio’s mother and another from a neighbor who reported he pointed a rifle at her.Inside the home, detectives found what they described as a survival-style setup, including around 20 weapons, ballistic vests, gas masks, survival food and a flashbang device.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.“It’s concerning that he’s preparing himself for some type of battle at some point,” the chief said.When asked whether Levasseur could one day return to duty, Niemczyk said it will depend entirely on his recovery, but the department remains hopeful.
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. —
Port St. Lucie police say injured Sergeant Erik Levasseur is improving three days after he was shot twice in the face while responding to a call in the Tradition neighborhood.
Chief Leo Niemczyk provided an update Thursday afternoon, saying Levasseur underwent surgery to remove shrapnel from both eyes, a procedure completed late Wednesday night at an undisclosed hospital.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
According to the chief, the sergeant is now awake, responsive and communicating through written notes. Niemczyk added that Levasseur has even been making jokes with family and fellow officers.
Doctors believe he could be transferred back to Longwood Medical Center within the next two days.
“He’s a very strong man with a very strong will, and we’re confident that he’s going to make a strong recovery at this point,” Niemczyk said.
Investigators also released new details about the suspected gunman, 32-year-old Frankie Salvatore Riccio. Police say Riccio had no prior criminal history or calls for service.
However, on the night of the shooting, officers received two separate 911 calls, one from Riccio’s mother and another from a neighbor who reported he pointed a rifle at her.
Inside the home, detectives found what they described as a survival-style setup, including around 20 weapons, ballistic vests, gas masks, survival food and a flashbang device.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
“It’s concerning that he’s preparing himself for some type of battle at some point,” the chief said.
When asked whether Levasseur could one day return to duty, Niemczyk said it will depend entirely on his recovery, but the department remains hopeful.