Port St. Lucie Officer Sgt. Erik LeVasseur Shot in Face During Mental Health Service Call; Suspect Killed

Sgt. Erik LeVasseur, a 27-year veteran of the Port St. Lucie Police Department, was shot in the face Monday evening while responding to a service call tied to a mental health dispute. The suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Frankie Salvatore Riccio, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with officers.

According to Police Chief Leo Niemczyk, six officers arrived around 6 p.m. at a home on the 11000 block of Southwest Lake Park Drive in the Town Park community of Tradition. Within minutes, the officers encountered Riccio armed with an AK-47-style rifle. Riccio ignored repeated commands broadcast via a patrol vehicle public address system and opened fire. Officers returned fire, killing Riccio at the scene.

Sgt. LeVasseur, a road patrol supervisor, was critically injured during the exchange and was immediately transported to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, where he underwent surgery and was placed in the intensive care unit. Niemczyk expressed optimism about LeVasseur’s recovery and asked the public for prayers. The other officers, including two trainees, were unharmed.

Port St. Lucie Officer Sgt. Erik LeVasseur Shot in Face During Mental Health Service Call; Suspect Killed

“This is the notification you dread every day,” Niemczyk said, describing the moment he learned of the shooting. The incident reportedly stemmed from a neighbor dispute involving a mental health call, though investigators are still reviewing the circumstances, including who fired first and how many officers discharged their weapons.

The Port St. Lucie Police Department honored Sgt. LeVasseur earlier this year during its 4th Quarter Awards ceremony, recognizing his 25 years of dedicated service.

Authorities have confirmed that the investigation remains active, and additional details will be released as they become available.