UPDATE: Wounded New Bedford Detective Lavar Gilbert released from hospital. What we know
NEW BEDFORD — New Bedford Police Detective Lavar Gilbert was discharged from a Boston hospital today after being shot in the face Monday night while working undercover.
Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Carola said Gilbert will need to return for a follow-up procedure in the near future.
He added, "However, we are happy to see that he has made great progress toward recovery."
Carola said the investigation into Gilbert's shooting Monday remains very active and detectives are following up on numerous leads.
He said Massachusetts State Police Troopers assigned to the district attorney’s office and federal ATF agents are working in tandem with NBPD investigators to close the case.
Carola added, "If the public has any information regarding this incident, they are strongly encouraged to reach out on our website, Facebook page, or by calling 508-99-CRIME. This can be done anonymously."
Community support for NBPD Detective Gilbert
Carola also expressed the department's gratitude for "the outpouring of support and well wishes from the public and surrounding law enforcement agencies."
Support for Detective Gilbert as he recovers is also coming in loud and clear from a local coffee shop where he's a regular.
A post on The Nook Gourmet CoffeeHouse's Facebook page to "send thoughts and prayers for our beautiful friend Detective Lavar Gilbert" drew close to 250 positive responses and close to 40 supportive comments.
Gilbert is a regular at the Fairhaven coffeehouse and bakery owned by Paul and Katie Menard.
The post signed by Paul and Katie states, "We will be giving his family a little time but we will be doing something for him in his honor. Right now we just ask for positive thoughts for a man who has protected his community … and made our world a little safer."
Paul said of Gilbert when contacted about the post, "He's a super guy, and he's very soft-spoken. But he's always extremely positive when he comes in, always with a smile. He's just a really, really nice guy."
He's also someone to turn to if there's trouble, Paul said.
"To me, Lavar is a community leader. And I think that's very important. He's someone that a lot of young children could look up to. I think he makes a difference and I think that's important."
What happened when the New Bedford police detective was shot?
Gilbert, who is assigned to the “Organized Crime Intelligence Bureau,” was conducting surveillance while working undercover in the south end Monday night, police said.
At 8:45 p.m., he was in an unmarked vehicle in the area of the Rivet St./Orchard St. intersection when shots were suddenly fired, police said.
His window was shattered, and he was struck in the face by a bullet. He remained conscious and was able to drive himself to St. Luke's Hospital for treatment, which Chief Paul Oliveira said was "miraculous."
A man arrived at the emergency room shortly after Gilbert. He had sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to his foot, which police believe was related to Gilbert's shooting.
Neither Gilbert nor any other New Bedford police officers fired their weapons during the incident.
Police said there is no indication at this time that Gilbert was specifically targeted, or that there is an ongoing threat to safety in the Goulart Square neighborhood.
How the New Bedford Police Union responded
The New Bedford Police Union expressed its support on its Facebook page.
"As a union, it is difficult to put into words how grateful we are to know that he is on the road to recovery. We also realize that the road may be a long one, and will continue after the physical wounds have healed. It is a road not only traveled by the detective, but by his family and friends as well.
"The members of this union will be there to support this detective, his family, and his friends, for the entirety of that journey."
Massachusetts State Police show support
Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr. also issued a statement Thursday.
"We are grateful there was no loss of life or more victims. And we are thankful to the New Bedford Officer who was on the street, doing the job, exercising a commitment to protecting the New Bedford community. His dedication is mirrored by brave police officers every day and night in communities across our Commonwealth and across our great nation.
"We are proud and grateful to stand in full support of our brother and sister officers in New Bedford."
Mawn added, "Dedicated public safety officers doing their jobs on the streets are never far from the risk of danger."
Chief Oliveira described the 17-year-veteran officer as an "unbelievable detective" who displays his commitment to protecting the public on a daily basis during a press conference Tuesday.
Gilbert's career includes being part of the NBPD team that took 16 pounds of fentanyl off New Bedford streets following a month-long investigation in 2021. It was the largest such seizure in city history, and netted an arrest. The drugs had a street value of $400,000.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford Police Detective Lavar Gilbert released from hospital
