TAMPA, Fla. — A Tampa police officer is recovering after being shot Wednesday morning.
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According to authorities, the shooting happened at North 30th Street, just north of Busch Boulevard and right near Busch Gardens. Tampa Police’s District 2 station is across the street from the west side of the theme park’s property.
Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw said Officer Jordan Laupert, 40, was shot in the leg at 8:15 a.m. as he finished talking to a visitor at the District 2 station. Laupert was behind the station talking to a man across the fence that borders the back of the station.
Bercaw said as they finished their conversation, the officer turned and headed back into the building. That’s when he felt the gunshot to his leg. Bercaw said fellow officers quickly responded to give aid as the gunman ran off.
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“The situation could have been much worse,” Bercaw said. “Our officer is in good spirits despite what happened here today.”
Laupert has been with the department for about 10 years, according to Bercaw, and works as a school resource officer at Hillsborough High School during the school year. Laupert is married with a teen-aged daughter, officials said.
Police officers followed the suspected gunman across the street to find the man dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
A Tampa police vehicle is seen outside Tampa General Hospital after the Wednesday morning shooting. (Spectrum News/Jeff Van Sant)
Officials said the gunman was possibly 21 years old with minimal criminal history.
Bercaw said the officer underwent surgery and remains in stable condition, though he is doing well.
The shooting is under investigation.