SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, April 12, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) — The second of two Salt Lake County Sheriff’s deputies shot during a fatal encounter with a transient on Saturday has been released from the hospital.
Deputy Leland Grossett was released at 2:30 p.m. Monday, a statement from the Sheriff’s Office says.
“His family is grateful for the progress he has made in his recovery so far,” a SLCo Sheriff’s statement says. “They appreciate the outpouring of support and continue to ask for their privacy.”
Grossett was shot in the eye by 31-year-old Joshua Michael Johnson, who was lying on the grass at the jail and Sheriff’s Department complex, which Grossett and partner Deputy Joshua Buerke were assigned to patrol and protect.
Buerke was shot in the face, but the bullet grazed his cheek, officials have said. Buerke was released from the hospital later Saturday. Grossett’s injury required surgery and cost him his eye.
Johnson was fatally shot at the scene.
Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said at a Monday afternoon news conference that more than 100 law enforcement officers showed up to honor Grossett as he was released from Intermountain Medical Center.
Grossett, who was weak from the injury and surgery, was moved to stand up from his wheelchair in a return of respect, Rivera said.
The sheriff said support will be provided for officers and staff members traumatized by the shooting, and that especially includes Buerke and the just released Grossett.
“We’re here for him, and we’re going to make sure he understands that,” Rivera said.
