Citibank Security Guard Fatally Shoots Suspect After Car Plows Into Lunch Crowd
A woman died and four others were injured when a sedan crashed into a cafeteria at a Tampa office complex on Wednesday.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Citibank maintains a large operational presence in the Tampa Bay region, employing thousands of staff who manage financial services for corporate and retail clients. On Wednesday, that routine work was interrupted by a violent incident at the company's office complex in Hillsborough County.
A woman was shot and killed inside the facility, and the suspect died from a gunshot wound sustained during an exchange of fire with a security guard. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office officials reported an active threat after receiving multiple 911 calls around 12:11 p.m.
Chief Deputy Frank Losat described the initial moments of the attack. The suspect drove a four-door sedan through a fence into an outdoor seating area where employees were eating lunch. After the vehicle stopped, the driver exited with a rifle and approached the woman, who was then shot. Losat stated that the victim's name is being withheld until her next of kin are notified.
The confrontation moved indoors to the building's cafeteria, where a Citibank security guard engaged the suspect. The guard fired first, hitting the suspect, who was transported to a local hospital and pronounced dead. Losat said the suspect's identity is pending confirmation. He noted that there were approximately 3,200 Citibank employees on the property at the time of the shooting.
Sheriff Chad Chronister initially posted on social media that preliminary information suggests the incident was targeted. Losat added that four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries, though it is not yet clear if they were struck by the vehicle or by debris. Investigators are interviewing staff to determine if the suspect and the victim knew each other.
Law enforcement deployed heavily armed deputies and armored vehicles to the scene. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions are also responding. Losat commended the security guard for stopping the threat, noting the potential for further violence. He said the crime scene is large and processing may continue into Thursday.
Authorities have cleared all buildings in the complex. Losat told reporters that the team is still working through details and that information is subject to change as interviews continue well into the night.
Source: WPVI-TV
