Florida officer shot in face during service call tied to mental health dispute; suspect killed

A Port St Lucie police officer was shot in the face while responding to a facility call Monday evening executives reported Six officers arrived at the home that was the source of the call at the block of SW Lake Park Drive around p m Within a minute of their arrival the officers were met by an adult male holding an assault rifle outside the home The suspect exchanged gunfire with the officers and was shot dead Police Chief Leo Niemczyk explained Niemczyk identified the injured officer as Sgt Erik LeVasseur a -year veteran of the department None of the other officers who responded to the home were injured Niemczyk stated KANSAS POLICE OFFICER DIES AFTER BEING SHOT WHILE RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALLThough details are still preliminary Niemczyk commented that the occurrence stemmed from a neighbor dispute involving a mental soundness call It s the notification that you just dread every day but it s reliably in the back of your mind as a police chief as a leader in law enforcement It s something that you re invariably very aware of afraid of concerned for and then it happens Niemczyk commented Sgt LeVasseur was taken to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce and remains in surgery We re very optimistic for his prognosis And at this time we re just asking for prayers Niemczyk explained An review is ongoing