A Tampa Police officer, Master Police Officer Jordan Laupert, is currently recovering after an incident that resulted in him being shot in the leg, as reported on the official Tampa government website this morning. The encounter occurred just outside the Tampa Police Department's District Two office, located at 9330 N 30th St, where Officer Laupert was found injured following the episode.
The series of events unfolded today, after a 21-year-old man whose name is pending formal identification and next of kin notification, had a brief interaction with Officer Laupert through a fence near the precinct; Laupert, having been struck by gunfire as he departed from the conversation, was swiftly aided by fellow officers who applied a tourniquet before Tampa Fire Rescue arrived and transported him to a local hospital, per a statement from the Tampa Police Department.
The suspect, described as a black male in his early twenties, was later discovered with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound close to Busch Gardens, after being seen shooting MPO Laupert and then immediately fleeing the area. Chief Lee Bercaw of the Tampa Police expressed relief and gratitude, stating, "Had it not been for the training, quick action, and life-saving efforts of his fellow officers and the men and women of Tampa Fire Rescue, this could have resulted in a very different outcome," as detailed by the City of Tampa's release.
Officer Laupert, a ten-year veteran of the force, usually serves as a School Resource Officer at Hillsborough High School, however, with schools being out for summer, he was on uniform street patrol at the time of the shooting, the investigation into the motivations of the suspect, who is believed to have been amid a mental health crisis during the occurrence is ongoing; meanwhile bodyworn camera footage related to the incident has been promised for future release as it becomes available.
