Tampa – A Tampa Police officer is recovering after being shot outside the District Two office early Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred just after 8:15 a.m. at the Tampa Police Department District Two Office, located at 9330 N 30th Street. A police sergeant radioed that an officer had been shot.
Master Police Officer (MPO) Jordan Laupert sustained a gunshot wound to the leg. Fellow officers applied a tourniquet, and Tampa Fire Rescue transported him to a local hospital. He is expected to recover.
Preliminary findings indicate that 21-year-old Jaylin Greene arrived at the District Two Office shortly before 8:15 a.m. After leaving the building, the individual began walking along N 30th Street, where he was approached by Officer Laupert through a fence. The two appeared to have a cordial exchange.
As Officer Laupert began walking away, Greene fired a shot, striking him in the leg. He then fled and was later located near the Busch Gardens property with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While MPO Laupert remains hospitalized at this time, thankfully, he is expected to recover from his injuries. Although initially posted otherwise on social media, he fortunately did not require surgery and received outstanding medical treatment for his gunshot wound.
Greene died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot after running from the scene. Greene had a very limited criminal history in the Tampa area, with preliminary information suggesting only one known juvenile arrest in 2019.
After his initial interaction with the suspect ended, MPO Laupert deactivated his body camera as he began walking away. However, immediately after being shot, he reactivated the camera. This critical action, taken even while severely injured and in the middle of a crisis, highlights MPO Laupert’s exemplary training and dedication to duty.
This remains an active and open investigation as detectives now actively work to determine what led Greene to shoot a Tampa Police Officer and where he acquired the gun.
Officer Laupert, 40, has been with the department since May 8, 2015. He is currently assigned as a School Resource Officer at Hillsborough High School and was temporarily assigned to street patrol during the summer.
The suspect is believed to have been experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the shooting.
The case remains under active investigation.
“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.”
Authorities are asking the community to keep Officer Laupert and his family in their thoughts during his recovery.