PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — The Port St. Lucie sergeant who was shot in the face twice is finally home after 37 days and multiple surgeries.

Sgt. Erik Levasseur was released from the hospital on Wednesday, the Port St. Lucie Police Department says. Photos taken during his release show Levasseur walking with his wife at his side, surrounded by officers from the police department and the medical staff of HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital.

“This journey has been a long and painful road—not only for Erik, but for his family, who have carried this weight with unwavering strength, faith, and love. Their resilience has inspired an entire city,” PSLPD said in a statement.

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On Dec. 1, 2025, 32-year-old Frankie Salvatore Riccio emerged from the garage armed with an AK-47-style rifle and opened fire. LeVasseur was struck twice in the face—one bullet near his nose and another beneath it—injuries that narrowly avoided major arteries and brain trauma. Officers returned fire, discharging 62 rounds in a firefight that ended with Riccio dead at the scene.

LeVasseur was rushed to Lawnwood Hospital, where surgeons wired his jaw shut and performed a tracheostomy to stabilize his airway. He later underwent specialized eye surgery to remove shrapnel from his retina. On December 9, doctors successfully removed additional bullet fragments lodged deeper than expected. While LeVasseur currently has no vision, police were told that reconstructive and eye surgeries are planned to improve his long-term outlook.

Medical staff confirmed there were no signs of brain damage. On December 15, PSLPD announced Sgt. LeVasseur’s transfer to a confidential rehabilitation facility. The department emphasized that the medical team deemed the move appropriate for his continued healing and that privacy remains a priority.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the shooting, as is standard protocol for officer-involved incidents.