Officer Wounded in Shooting Near Busch Gardens; Suspect Dies from Self-Inflicted Wound

Tampa Police Officer Wounded in Shooting Near Busch Gardens; Suspect Found Dead

By Alexa Coultoff
Source: Tampa Bay Times

TAMPA, FL — A Tampa police officer was shot and wounded early Wednesday morning near Busch Gardens, leading to a tragic turn of events as the suspected shooter later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Officer Jordan Laupert, 40, is currently in stable condition at a local hospital, according to Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. The incident unfolded shortly before 8:15 a.m. when the 21-year-old suspect approached the police department’s district office on North 30th Street.

Witnesses reported that Laupert and the suspect engaged in a “cordial conversation” through a fence. However, the situation escalated when the suspect shot Laupert in the leg as he walked toward the back door of the office.

Following the shooting, the suspect fled across the street to the Annie Street entrance of Busch Gardens, where officers later discovered him deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Investigators are currently working to identify the shooter and notify his family. Preliminary reports suggest that he may have been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.

Chief Bercaw expressed gratitude that Officer Laupert is recovering, stating, “I’m thankful to be standing before you today to tell you my officer is in the hospital in stable condition and good spirits despite what happened today.”

Officer Laupert, who joined the Tampa Police Department in 2015, is typically assigned as a school resource officer at Hillsborough High School. During the summer months, he is temporarily reassigned to uniform street patrol, a standard practice for school resource officers.

As the investigation continues, the community remains on edge, reflecting on the challenges faced by law enforcement and the importance of mental health awareness.

For more updates, visit Tampa Bay Times.