Citibank Tampa Shooter Killed Woman Over $2,500 Debt

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister announced on Thursday that a $2,500 credit card debt served as the motive for a deadly shooting at a Citibank office complex in Tampa. Jacob Pearson, a 35-year-old man with no prior criminal record, killed one employee and was himself shot dead by a security guard during the attack.

Pearson called an attorney connected to Citibank approximately three hours before the shooting began. During the conversation, Pearson demanded the lawyer cancel a scheduled court hearing regarding his unpaid balance. Chronister stated that Pearson threatened to arrive at the office with an AR-15 rifle, a bulletproof vest, and his insanity if the hearing was not dismissed.

The incident occurred on Wednesday while roughly 3,200 employees were on the campus in suburban Tampa. Many staff members were in a courtyard eating lunch when Pearson arrived. He drove from his home in Orlando, a distance of about 90 miles, and crashed his vehicle through the campus fence. He then drove into the courtyard and stopped.

Chronister reported that Pearson exited his car carrying a rifle and fired at the first employee he encountered. The rifle malfunctioned after three shots, so Pearson retrieved a handgun from his car and fired again at the same victim. The woman was identified as Leanne Selman, 41, who worked in the human resources department. She had been employed by Citibank for nine years.

Selman had no connection to the gunman, according to the sheriff. Chronister described Pearson as being intent on hunting down and killing any person he could find. As other employees fled the scene, Pearson entered the building and walked through a cafeteria. A member of Citibank’s armed security team shot Pearson five times before he could injure anyone else.

Pearson was pronounced dead at a hospital. Chronister noted that the outcome could have been more severe because Pearson brought 90 rounds of ammunition to the complex but only fired 15 times before being stopped. No other employees were shot. Four people were treated at a hospital for minor injuries sustained while fleeing or for pre-existing medical conditions such as chest pains.

Court records from Orange County show Citibank filed a complaint against Pearson on October 23. The complaint listed an outstanding credit card debt of $2,556.40. The court subsequently issued a summons for Pearson to appear at a hearing on February 15. Pearson’s father, Richard Pearson, said that he last spoke with his son several weeks ago and did not hear any signs of financial distress.

Citigroup spokesman Ed Skyler said employees may continue to work remotely in the coming days. Skyler stated that the company would not require staff to return to the office on Monday or in the near future. Investigators completed their evidence collection at the complex by early Thursday morning.