At least one woman was killed and four others injured after a gunman opened fire at Citibank’s Citi Bank Center in Brandon, near Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday. The suspected shooter was also killed after being confronted by an armed security guard at the corporate campus, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO).
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister described the incident as a targeted attack. Authorities confirmed that the suspect was dead and that one victim had been killed. The four injured people were being treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to officials.
Chief Deputy Frank Losatt said the gunman was shot after confronting an armed Citibank security guard. The suspect was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
According to Losatt, the gunman drove across several medians and a grassy area before crashing through a secure fence surrounding part of the property. His vehicle then struck an outdoor seating area where several people were having lunch.
The suspect exited the car carrying a rifle and approached a woman, whom he shot, Losatt said. The gunman was described as shirtless and was reportedly carrying what appeared to be an AR-style rifle.
Authorities believe the woman who died worked for a vendor at the Citibank site, according to law enforcement sources cited by The New York Post.
Tampa Citibank Campus Evacuated, Hundreds Of Deputies Respond
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said its deputies were clearing the building after the shooting. The SWAT team conducted room-by-room sweeps as the entire campus was evacuated.
A total of 367 HCSO deputies responded to the scene, working with specialized units to secure the area and ensure everyone’s safety. Employees were directed to a reunification site in a nearby parking lot.
An emergency alert issued by Hillsborough County had earlier instructed people in the Sabal Park Business Area in East Tampa to shelter in place. Residents and employees were told to stay indoors, lock their doors, keep away from windows, and avoid law enforcement activity.
The sheriff’s office also urged the public to stay away from Queen Palms Drive and Falkenburg Road until further notice. Students and employees at nearby Hillsborough College were also warned to shelter in place amid the heavy police presence.
Aerial footage showed SWAT units and other law enforcement personnel moving through the large corporate campus, also known as the Sabal Center.
Citi said it was aware of an incident affecting its Tampa site and was coordinating with law enforcement. The bank employs more than 10,000 people in the Tampa region, including at the 670,000-square-foot corporate campus where the shooting took place.
