ORLANDO, Fla. – A deputy who was shot multiple times while trying to serve an arrest warrant for a convicted felon has been released from the hospital where he was being treated, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
Sgt. Richard "Rick" Stelter, 45, had been recovering at Orlando Regional Medical Center following a shooting at Park Central Apartment Complex on Americana Boulevard in Orlando at 11:42 a.m. Tuesday.
Stelter, who has been with the Sheriff's Office for more than 20 years, was with four other deputies attempting to serve an arrest warrant for 20-year-old Christopher Redding when the suspect opened fire, deputies said.
The deputy was shot multiple times before Redding was fatally gunned down. He was wanted in connection with three recent purse-snatching robberies, officials said.
[WEB EXTRA: Read more about Redding's criminal history]
A picture taken from the hospital room shows bandages covering both of Stelter's hands.
"I am extremely grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers for me and my family. While my injuries will keep me off the job for now, I am expected to make a full recovery," Stelter said in a statement. "A special thanks to my brothers and sisters at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Central Florida law enforcement and EMS community. I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to the doctors and nurses at Orlando Health and the citizens of Orange County."
With news of Stelter's release from the hospital, officials also identified the four other deputies involved in the fatal shooting.
They are Jason Popovich, a 15-year veteran; John Leone, a 22-year veteran; Christopher Marcus, a 21-year veteran; and Javier Alvaro, a 12-year deputy.
All four men will be temporarily assigned to administrative duty for at least one week while officials investigate the incident. All the deputies involved are members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Support Squad.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said during a news conference Tuesday that he believes the shooting was justified.
"Given the details that we know at this time and eyewitness testimony, it appears that the actions taken by the deputies were appropriate," he said.