Leon Vance found himself in a precarious situation during NCIS’s milestone 1000th episode. The NCIS director took a bullet to the back and had fans wondering: Is Rocky Carroll leaving NCIS? Keep reading to find out.
The long-running police procedural on CBS, NCIS, centers on the personal and professional lives of special agents assigned to the Major Case Response Team of the Naval Criminal Investigation Service, which looks into criminal activity involving the US Navy, USMC, and their families.
The show debuted in 2003 and is the third-longest-running primetime drama in the United States. Due to its popularity, numerous spin-offs have been created, including the critically acclaimed NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: Hawaii, and NCIS: Sydney, which ran for 14 seasons.
Rocky Carroll portrays Leon Vance, a former special agent turned director of NCIS. He made his debut as an NCIS director in Season 5. Following the death of Jenny Shepard (Lauren Holly) in the upcoming season, he was appointed permanent director. After his wife Jackie (Paula Newsome) was shot and killed in Season 10, he was left to raise his son Jared and daughter Kayla alone.
On April 16, 2024, the 1000th episode of the NCIS series aired, emphasizing the risks associated with the work and featuring a sniper’s shot to Vance’s back.
Is Rocky Carroll leaving NCIS?
In response, the answer is No.
Vance survived the shooting even though he sustained severe injuries, and Carroll does not seem to be leaving the show anytime soon. The truth is that Vance’s near-death experience healed his estranged son Jared.
The 1000th episode started when Vance went to see his wife Jackie’s grave. The latter had not appeared on the show since Season 10, and he blamed NCIS for his mother’s death, which damaged his relationship with Vance.
At the cemetery, the two were fighting when Vance was unexpectedly shot in the back. Due to heart and lung damage, he needed emergency surgery after being taken to the hospital.
Thankfully, Vance pulled through and survived, but he has a long road to recovery ahead of him. By the end of the episode, however, he and Jared were in a much better place.
Vance may have survived the 1000th episode, but he will likely be out for a few episodes as he recovers. Carroll teased that the final episode of Season 21 is “going to be good” while confirming his return.
