Officer Shot Outside FL Police Station, Suspect Dead

Updated: Wednesday, 2:46 p.m.

TAMPA, FL — An officer is recovering after being shot outside the District Two office on Wednesday morning, according to a Tampa Police Department news release.

Master Police Officer Jordan Laupert, 40, was found with a gunshot wound to his leg outside the office at 9330 N. 30th Street around 8:15 a.m., police said.

A tourniquet was applied by other officers and Tampa Fire Rescue members, who brought him to a local hospital.

The suspect, a 21-year-old Black man, arrived at the office just before 8:15 a.m. Just after he left, he began walking on N. 30th Street, where he got Laupert’s attention.

Through the fence, Laupert began talking to the suspect and was engaged in what appeared to be a cordial conversation, police said.

The suspect shot Laupert as he walked away, the agency said.

The suspect immediately ran from the scene and was found near the Busch Gardents property with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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“As a community, we are all incredibly fortunate that MPO Laupert, a guardian of our city, was not taken from us today after being shot,” said Chief Lee Bercaw. “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.”

Laupert was hired by the department on May 8, 2015. He is currently assigned as a school resource officer at Hillsborough High School, but was temporarily assigned to uniform street patrol during the summer break.

Investigators think the suspect was dealing with a mental health crisis at the time of the incident. Formal identification and next of kin notification are still pending.

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