PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A Port St. Lucie police sergeant was released from the hospital, 37 days after he was shot in the face while on duty Dec. 1.
The agency announced on its Facebook page that Sgt. Erik Levasseur was discharged from HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce on Wednesday.
WATCH BELOW: Sergeant released from hospital after shooting
Police posted a picture of Levasseur walking in uniform with his wife by his side, holding his hand. Other men and women from the department and hospital staff were also present for the emotional moment.
"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," the city said in a statement. "We extend our deepest gratitude to all exceptional doctors, nurses, and medical professionals at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital and the medical staff at additional hospitals and facilities, whose skill, compassion, and tireless care played a vital role in Erik's recovery. Thank you as well to our dispatchers, EMS, fellow officers, our community and every individual who responded, supported, prayed, and stood watch during this time. This was a collective effort of courage, professionalism, and unity."
WPTV journalist Michael Hoffman caught up with Joe Edge, a longtime friend of Levasseur's. He says it's nothing short of a miracle that his friend survived.
"Life is good," said Edge. "He needs to start playing the lottery."
Edge tells Hoffman that Levasseur's GoFundMe has raised just under $65,000. He adds that another event on Jan. 10 will raise funds with all proceeds going to Levasseur's family at the Men at Arms facility on Southwest Macedo Boulevard in Port St. Lucie, from noon to 5 p.m.
The police department also released an emotional video of the sergeant walking out of the hospital.
Levasseur was shot in the face while responding to a call in the 11000 block of Southwest Lake Park Drive last month. The gunman, Frankie Salvatore Riccio, 32, was killed after shooting Levasseur.
The sergeant had multiple surgeries to repair facial injuries, had a wired jaw and was relying on a tracheotomy, according to police.
