FELLSMERE, FL – A Fellsmere, Florida police officer is recovering after risking his life to protect children at a school bus stop from a charging bull that was running loose at their apartment complex.

The bull charged the kids and then trampled the police officer, who got up and shot the bull 3 times, injuring it. The officer then shot the bull dead during another encounter. It took a total of 7 bullets to kill the charging bull.

The frightening chain of events began at 6:47 a.m. when emergency 911 dispatchers got the first call about a bull running loose toward the front of the Sonrise Villas apartments located at 53 Sonrise Pl.

Investigators say Nicholas Seuderling called 911 and said he was waiting for the GoLine bus at the bus stop on N. Willow Street in front of the apartment complex.

Seuderling said he was texting on his cell phone and when he looked up, the bull was “staring him in the face.”

Seuderling said he immediately got up from the bus stop bench and ran in to the apartment complex area. He said the bull chased him, so he hid behind a tree and watched the bull continue east into the complex.

He also told 911 dispatchers that there were numerous middle school-aged children gathering near the entrance to the complex.

Seuderling flagged down Fellsmore Police Officer Jeff Gibbs as he entered the complex and told him where the bull was. Officer Gibbs saw the bull walking toward 20 children who were congregating in an open area of the complex near their bus stop.

Officer Gibbs recognized the bull as possibly being the property of a Fellsmere resident Mike Reuhman, who has a nearby farm.

Officer Gibbs feared for the children’s safety and attempted to distract the bull, so it would focus on him and not the children, according to a Fellsmere Police Department spokesperson.

The bull turned and approached Officer Gibbs with its head down and began to charge. Officer Gibbs waited until the bull was two feet from where he stood, before firing his pistol. He fired three shots, striking the bull each time. The bull then struck Officer Gibbs, knocked him to the ground and trampled him, before falling over himself.

The bull then got back up and ran away from the children.

Officer Gibbs followed the bull to continue to protect the area and told dispatchers that shots had been fired at the bull. He also requested an EMS crew because of an injury to his ankle.

Officer Gibbs followed the bull as it ran behind a building. The bull then turned, put his head down and charged him again. Officer Gibbs fired his pistol four more times, killing it, according to the spokesperson.

Deputy David May, School Resource Officer at Sebastian River Middle School, interviewed 10 middle school age children who witnessed the bull attack and obtained their written statements. The children were also offered counseling services, if needed.

Officer Jeff Gibbs drove himself to the Sebastian River Hospital where it was determined that he injured a nerve on the outside of his right ankle. He was released and is recovering at home.

Indian River Fire Rescue Assistant Chief Brian Burkeen responded to the scene and witnessed the loose bull’s rampage. He praised Officer Gibbs’ response.

“I witness (ed) today the dedication and genuine concern for the public’s safety by Officer Gibbs,” said Burkeen in a memo to Fellsmere Police Chief Keith Touchberry.

“Attempts were made to stop the animal without violence and allow it to calm without success. I believe the Officer Gibbs responded in a manner to protect the lives of all the children that were present and removed the threat,” said Burkeen.

The bull’s owner, Mike Reuhman removed the dead bull from the Sonrise property. He was also issued a $115 citation for failure to keep animal under restraint.

Fellsmere is north of Vero Beach and is in Indian River County.