TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa police officer was shot Wednesday morning outside a department office near Busch Gardens, according to law enforcement.
The Tampa Police Department said the Officer Jordan Laupert was speaking with a 21-year-old man around 8:15 a.m. through the fence outside the department’s District Two office in “what appeared to be a cordial conversation.”
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When the 40-year-old officer started to walk away, the man shot him in the leg, according to police. Other officers found Laupert and applied a tourniquet.
The 21-year-old fled the office at 9330 N. 30th St. and was found dead near Busch Gardens after shooting himself, Tampa police Chief Lee Bercaw said.
Bercaw said it is believed the man was dealing with a mental health crisis.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addressed the shooting during a roundtable in Tampa.
“We’re sorry to hear about the Tampa police officer that was shot earlier today, but he is stable and recovering and is expected to make a full recovery... We understand how important it is for people to wear the uniform. I mean, you know, we don’t know what all went into it but the reality is is that these guys had to do a lot for us, so we should be appreciative,” he said.
Laupert was taken to the hospital, where he had surgery and was in stable condition, the department said.
Tampa police said Laupert has been with the department since May 2015. He is a school resource officer at Hillsborough High School but since it is summer, he was temporarily assigned to uniform street patrol.
No other information has been released.