HILLSBOROUGH CO., Fla. — A woman was killed and four other people were injured Wednesday after a gunman drove through a security gate at a Citibank corporate campus in Brandon and opened fire, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Woman killed, gunman dead after shooting at Citibank campus in Brandon
The gunman was shot and killed by an armed Citibank security guard during an exchange of gunfire. The suspect was later pronounced dead at Tampa General Hospital.
Deputies responded to the Citibank campus near Brandon in just minutes, following multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire.
Watch press conference update from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office:
Press conference: Shooting at Citibank building in Tampa
Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Frank Losat said the suspect drove over several medians, crossed a grassy area, and drove through a secured fence before crashing into an outdoor seating area where employees were having lunch.
The suspect then got out of the vehicle carrying a rifle, approached a woman, and fatally shot her, Losat said.
An armed Citibank security guard confronted the gunman inside the building’s cafeteria at approximately 12:15 p.m. Both exchanged gunfire, and the suspect was shot.
“The security guard that’s employed by Citibank stopped the threat,” Losat said. “Was there a potential for further violence? Absolutely. So, kudos to that security guard.”
Four other people were treated at a local hospital for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. As of Wednesday afternoon, investigators had not determined whether those individuals were injured by gunfire, the vehicle, or otherwise.
Hundreds of deputies responded
Losat said the first Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office unit arrived at 12:12 p.m., just one minute after the initial 911 calls, and entered the building.
A total of 367 sheriff’s office deputies responded, including members of the agency’s command staff, detectives, and street crime units. SWAT teams and federal law enforcement partners also responded.
Approximately 3,200 Citibank employees were on the property when the shooting happened.
Deputies spent approximately two and a half hours clearing the campus, which includes six or seven three-story buildings. Losat said investigators searched every part of the buildings, including locked rooms, to ensure they were secure.
Video shows gunman carrying rifle
Tampa Bay 28 obtained video shared by the spouse of an employee inside the building. The footage shows the suspected gunman walking through the campus carrying a rifle.
For now, we have blurred the face of the gunman in case revealing his identity could potentially identify the victim deputies say he killed. That victim has not been publicly identified.
Video of suspected gunman at Citibank building in Tampa
Investigators still working to determine motive
Investigators have not determined what led to the shooting or whether the suspect and the woman who was killed knew each other.
Sheriff Chad Chronister initially described the incident as targeted. However, when asked about that characterization during a subsequent briefing, Losat said investigators were still working through the details and had not established whether the suspect and victim had a relationship.
Losat said investigators expect to interview witnesses well into the night. With approximately 3,200 employees on the property, the sheriff’s office is asking anyone with video or information about the shooting to come forward.
Anyone with relevant video footage can send it to videos@teamhcso.com.
Investigators said crime scene processing could continue for several hours or into Thursday.
More video from employee at the building:
Shooting at Citibank Center in Brandon
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