PORT ST. LUCIE — A 27-year Police Department veteran is expected to survive but could be blind following a shooting Dec. 1 in Tradition, police said at a news conference Dec. 4.
“We feel he’s out of the woods,” Police Chief Leo Niemczyk told reporters about Sgt. Erik LeVasseur, 55.
LeVasseur was shot by Frankie Salvatore Riccio, 32, who died in a shootout with officers. The incident happened shortly after 6 p.m. on Southwest Lake Park Drive in the Town Park at Tradition gated community. Riccio may have been under the influence of drugs when the shootout occurred, Niemczyk said.
What happened?
Police received two 911 calls: one from Riccio’s mother and another from a neighbor. The neighbor told police that Riccio pointed a rifle at her and told her to go inside her home.
Before police arrived, LeVasseur interviewed Riccio’s mother over the phone. Then he organized officers up the block before he took the lead. One of five other officers was in a vehicle while four were on foot to provide cover.
Gunfire erupted before police got to the home, Niemczyk said. Police heard shots as they were approaching, the chief said. Riccio was allegedly in the garage.
Port St. Lucie Police Sgt. Erik LeVasseur
The officer in the vehicle ordered Riccio to come out of the garage. Riccio stepped out and allegedly fired on LeVasseur with an AK-47. LeVasseur was in front of a next-door neighbor’s home and suffered two bullet wounds to the face.
Riccio then crossed the street to the opposite side of the police vehicle to fire on the other officers who swung around to the other side of the vehicle to avoid getting shot and return fire, Niemczyk said.
Riccio died after officers shot him. Riccio fired 10 shots; officers 62, police said.
LeVasseur’s recovery
Police had deep concern for the first 24 hours after the shooting that LeVasseur would die.
He was initially hospitalized in HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital with shrapnel in both eyes. He was flown Dec. 2 to an undisclosed hospital and underwent surgery Dec. 3 to have the shrapnel removed. He may return to Lawnwood Dec. 6.
LeVasseur is now spending more time alert than sedated, Niemczyk said.
“He is aware and alert and writing notes and making jokes to his wife and co-workers,” the chief said.
“Our spirits are heavily lifted,” he said.
It’s unclear if LeVasseur will return to service with the Police Department, the chief said. It’s also unclear if he will be blind.
“I don’t know what the outcome’s going to be,” Niemczyk said.
Who was Riccio?
Riccio was in possession of medical-grade marijuana, and his mother reported that he had been using it for days, Niemczyk said.
Riccio’s mother called police because he was acting irrationally and crazy, Niemczyk said.
Riccio had about 20 weapons, Niemczyk said, as well as gas masks, ballistic vests and a flash-bang device. Riccio also had nonperishable food.
Niemczyk likened Riccio to a survivalist.
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“It’s concerning,” Niemczyk said, “that he’s preparing for some type of battle at some point”
Police previously had no interaction with Riccio beyond a traffic citation, according to police. He had been acting crazy the past two days, Niemczyk said.
Riccio had no criminal record and no record of being held for mental-health issues under the Baker Act, police said.
The shooting of LeVasseur came just days after Indian River Sheriff’s Sgt. Terri Sweeting-Mashkow was shot and killed Nov. 21 while serving an eviction notice at a home on Orchid Island.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com and at 720-288-6882.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: PSL police sergeant expected to survive shooting in Tradition