A peaceful Wednesday afternoon turned into an emergency when reports of gunfire sent employees rushing for safety at a major Citibank office complex near Tampa, Florida. Shortly after noon on November 4, 2026, a vehicle crashed through a security gate at the Sabal Center campus, where approximately 3,200 people were working. Within moments, employees were seeking shelter as emergency calls reached the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies arrived almost immediately, while the company’s security team responded to the unfolding situation. Authorities later confirmed that one employee, a 41-year-old woman who had spent nine years with the bank, had lost her life. Four other people required hospital treatment for non-life-threatening injuries. Investigators soon discovered that the incident was connected to a financial dispute involving approximately $2,500, but the full sequence of events revealed an even more concerning situation.
According to Sheriff Chad Chronister, the suspect had become upset earlier that morning after being contacted about a court summons related to an outstanding credit card balance. Authorities said he made alarming statements about going to the bank with a weapon, prompting Citibank’s security team to notify law enforcement. Officers in Orlando attempted to locate him, while deputies near Tampa prepared for the potential threat. At approximately 12:10 p.m., the suspect arrived at the complex and entered the courtyard in his vehicle. He then approached an employee before moving toward the building’s cafeteria. Inside, a trained security officer confronted him, bringing the incident to an end within minutes. But when officials later explained who that officer was and what happened during those critical moments, his actions became a central part of the story.
The suspect was identified as 35-year-old Jacob Pearson of Orlando, who authorities said had been facing a court proceeding concerning approximately $2,500 in credit card debt. The dispute involved financial obligations that ordinarily would have been addressed through an attorney and established legal procedures. Investigators have not suggested that any mortgage, insurance policy, estate arrangement, or investment disagreement was involved. Inside the cafeteria, Citibank security officer and Marine Corps veteran John Fraley, 38, confronted the suspect and stopped the immediate threat. Pearson was transported to Tampa General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. More than 360 sheriff’s deputies participated in the response, helping evacuate the campus and secure the buildings. Sheriff Chronister praised Fraley’s quick decisions, saying his intervention likely prevented additional losses.
As investigators continued reviewing the November 4 incident, attention increasingly turned toward the employee whose life had been lost. She was a Palm Harbor resident who worked as a Learning Advisor for Citi Security and Investigative Services, serving the company for nine years. Citigroup leadership expressed condolences to her relatives and colleagues, while officials confirmed that the four other people treated at hospitals had been released. The company also emphasized its gratitude toward the security personnel and first responders who helped protect thousands of employees. For coworkers, the tragedy brought an ordinary workday to an unexpected and devastating end. The woman being remembered was Leanne Selman, 41, whose death has left her family, friends, and colleagues grieving. As the investigation continues, her loss remains the most painful reminder of what happened that afternoon.