One Killed, Suspect Dead After Tampa Office Shooting
A Citibank employee was shot and killed at a business complex in Florida on Wednesday, prompting a massive law enforcement response, ABC7 New York reported. The suspect, who authorities believe may have had a financial grievance against the bank, was also killed after an exchange of gunfire with a security guard.
How the Unfolding Crisis at Citigroup’s Tampa Campus Played Out
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, authorities responded to an “active threat” at the Citibank complex around 12:11 p.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls. The sequence of events, as detailed by Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Frank Losat, began when the suspect drove a four-door sedan through a fenced area and crashed into an outdoor seating area where people were having lunch. “Upon the car coming to rest, the suspect exits the vehicle with a rifle, approaches the female, and she is shot,” Losat said during a press briefing.
The victim, a female Citibank employee, was fatally wounded. Her name is being withheld pending identification and notification of next of kin. The suspect then entered the building’s cafeteria, where he engaged a Citibank security guard in a shootout. The security guard shot the suspect, who was later pronounced dead at an area hospital. “We have a security guard who stopped the threat,” Losat said, adding that there was “potential” for further violence had the guard not acted.
Investigating the Ongoing Incident
Four additional people sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident, though it is unclear at this time if they were struck by the suspect’s vehicle. The Tampa campus, which houses approximately 3,200 employees, was secured after the shooting, but the crime scene is described as “very large” and is expected to be processed into Thursday.
The investigation remains fluid. While Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated on social media that “we believe this is a targeted incident,” Losat noted that investigators must “work through details” and that information is subject to change. A key question is whether the suspect and victim knew each other. The authorities are also exploring the suspect’s potential financial grievance as a motive.
“This is a terrible tragedy for our Citi family,” said CEO Jane Fraser in an internal message to employees. “My heart goes out to our colleague’s loved ones, all our colleagues in Tampa and everyone affected by this horrific act of violence. I am grateful for the brave actions of our security team who prevented this awful day from being even worse.”
“This is a sad day for everybody involved, the Tampa Bay area and surrounding communities and the law enforcement partners.”
In the aftermath, the Tampa campus was declared secure, with Fraser stating that additional security would be added to all other Citi locations “as necessary.” The company is providing counseling and other resources for employees and has confirmed it is working closely with law enforcement. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also responding to the scene, according to a law enforcement source who spoke with ABC News.
A Targeted Incident in a Complex Setting
With 3,200 potential witnesses, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office faces a monumental task in piecing together the events. “With that many witnesses, up to 3,200 witnesses, we will be doing interviews well into the night,” Losat said.