On Wednesday afternoon, a violent incident unfolded at the Citibank corporate campus in Brandon, Florida, when a 35‑year‑old man entered the employee courtyard armed with an AR‑15 rifle. The suspect, identified as Jacob Pearson, had been served with a court summons over a $2,500 debt owed to the bank and allegedly threatened the collection firm earlier that morning.
Sequence of events
At approximately noon, Pearson drove his sedan through a security gate and parked in the outdoor courtyard where roughly 3,200 Citibank employees were working. He exited the vehicle, approached the first person he saw, and opened fire, striking 41‑year‑old Leanne Selman, a longtime Citibank learning advisor, three times. When his rifle malfunctioned, Pearson returned to his car, retrieved a handgun, and shot Selman again as she tried to crawl away. Selman had no prior connection to the shooter; she was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After the initial attack, Pearson entered the cafeteria carrying a box of 90 rounds of ammunition. It was then that John Fraley, a Citibank vice president of operations and a United States Marine Corps veteran serving on the firm’s security team, took a tactical position near a men’s restroom. Hearing the gunfire, Fraley engaged Pearson in an exchange of fire, striking the assailant five times. Pearson was later transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Law‑enforcement response
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister briefed the press, noting that Pearson fired a total of 15 rounds before being neutralized. Within minutes, more than 360 deputies, SWAT units, and state and local law‑enforcement agencies converged on the campus, securing the sprawling complex over a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour operation. Forensic teams worked through the night, and control of the campus was returned to Citibank executives early Thursday morning.
Four additional employees were treated for minor injuries sustained while fleeing the scene, including facial abrasions, a precautionary check for a pregnant employee, and one man who experienced chest pains. All have since been released.
Company response and community impact
Citigroup’s head of Enterprise Services and Public Affairs, Ed Skyler, expressed gratitude for the swift actions of the security team. “Our hearts are heavy, but they are also full of gratitude,” Skyler said. “We are grateful to the actions of our security team, whose heroic response prevented this tragedy from becoming even worse.” The company is offering counseling resources to employees and has not required staff to return to the facility immediately.
The incident underscores the importance of vigilant security measures and the dedication of veterans like Fraley who protect their workplaces. Their willingness to act decisively in the face of danger reflects the values of service, courage, and community safety that many Floridians hold dear.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
