$2,500 Debt Dispute Behind Deadly Citibank Shooting as Police Reveal Suspect’s Chilling Threat

A deadly shooting at a Citibank office campus in Florida was allegedly sparked by a dispute over a credit-card debt of approximately $2,500, authorities have revealed.

Investigators identified the gunman as 35-year-old Jacob Pearson, who allegedly drove from his home in Orlando to the bank’s Tampa-area campus on Wednesday, November 4, after becoming angry over a court summons related to the unpaid debt.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, Pearson had contacted an attorney affiliated with Citibank roughly three hours before the attack. During the call, he allegedly threatened to bring an AR-15 rifle and body armor to the company’s offices unless a court hearing concerning the debt was canceled.

The attorney reported the threat to authorities, prompting law enforcement to alert Citibank and send deputies toward the campus.

However, before officers could reach him, Pearson allegedly drove his vehicle through a security gate at around 12:10 p.m. and opened fire one minute later.

The shooting took place while approximately 3,200 employees were working at the sprawling corporate complex.

Authorities identified the woman killed in the attack as 41-year-old Leanne Selman, a Citibank employee who had worked for the company for nine years. She served as a Learning Advisor for Citi Security and Investigative Services.

Investigators said Selman had no known personal connection to Pearson. Sheriff Chronister described the victim and the suspect as having “zero connection.”

According to the sheriff, Pearson initially opened fire with a rifle after getting out of his vehicle. The weapon reportedly malfunctioned after several shots, prompting him to retrieve a handgun from his car.

Pearson then entered the campus building and moved toward the cafeteria, where an armed Citibank security employee confronted him.

The security employee was identified as 38-year-old John Fraley, a company vice president and intelligence lead analyst. He exchanged gunfire with Pearson and shot him five times, stopping the attack.

Pearson was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:12 p.m.

Authorities said the suspect had brought approximately 90 rounds of ammunition to the campus but fired around 15 shots before he was stopped.

Four other people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officials said they had been treated and released.

The sheriff praised Fraley for confronting the gunman and preventing further bloodshed, noting that thousands of people were inside the complex when the shooting began.

Pearson’s father, Richard Pearson, told The Associated Press that he had never seen signs suggesting his son was capable of carrying out such an act.

The investigation has revealed that the alleged motive centered on a credit-card debt of roughly $2,500 and a related court proceeding. Authorities have not indicated that Selman was personally involved in the dispute.

Citibank and its parent company, Citigroup, said they were cooperating with investigators. The company has also focused on supporting Selman’s family and employees affected by the traumatic incident.

What began as a dispute over an unpaid credit-card balance ended with one employee dead and the alleged gunman also killed, leaving colleagues and the wider community struggling to understand the violence.

Source:  DAILYMAIL