A Marine veteran working as a security officer was credited with stopping an armed attacker at a Citibank campus in Brandon, Florida, after the gunman killed an employee. Authorities said the suspect had become enraged over a delinquent $2,500 credit card debt and had threatened a collections law office before driving to the site. The security officer took a tactical position and shot the suspect five times, ending the attack before more workers were harmed. The suspect later died at a Tampa hospital.
The incident unfolded Wednesday at the Tampa-area corporate campus, where employees were present when the suspect forced his way through a gate. Officials described the security officer’s actions as courageous, while newly released body-camera footage showed deputies evacuating people from the building after the shooting.
| 1) | Threats followed a dispute over a credit card debt |
| 2) | Security officials prepared for a possible attack |
| 3) | Gunman entered the Brandon campus and attacked an employee |
| 4) | Marine veteran confronted the suspect inside the facility |
| 5) | Authorities investigate the deadly aftermath |
Threats followed a dispute over a credit card debt
Authorities identified the suspect as 35-year-old Jacob Pearson, who lived in Orlando and was married with a 7-year-old child. Officials said the conflict began after Pearson received a court summons related to a $2,500 delinquent debt owed to Citibank. At about 9 a.m. Wednesday, he allegedly called a law office contracted by the bank and made violent threats.
Investigators said Pearson then left his home armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun and a bulletproof vest. His alleged statements led the law office to alert authorities, raising concerns that he might travel to a Citibank location to carry out the threats.
“He was there intent on one purpose, and that purpose was to hunt any human being he could find and kill,” the county sheriff said.
Security officials prepared for a possible attack
Citibank’s head of security, a retired Secret Service agent, treated the threat as serious and took preventive steps before Pearson arrived. The security official contacted the Orlando Police Department to request a welfare check and asked the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office to provide a deputy presence at the campus in Brandon.
Those measures were intended to protect employees and prepare the corporate site for a possible armed visitor. Despite the warnings and requested law enforcement response, Pearson reached the property before the danger had been fully contained.
Gunman entered the Brandon campus and attacked an employee
Pearson drove a sedan onto the campus Wednesday and crashed through a gate into a courtyard where employees had gathered. He exited the vehicle with a rifle and shot 41-year-old learning adviser LeAnne Selmon three times, according to officials.
The rifle then malfunctioned, authorities said. Pearson returned to his car, retrieved a handgun and went back toward Selmon as she tried to move away. Officials said he shot her again, killing her at the scene. Pearson then entered a cafeteria area, apparently looking for additional victims.
Marine veteran confronted the suspect inside the facility
The security officer was identified as John Fraley, a Marine veteran authorized to carry a firearm because of his military training. When Pearson moved through the facility, Fraley took a tactical position inside a men’s restroom and waited for an opportunity to confront him.
Fraley fired when he encountered Pearson, striking him five times. The sheriff said Fraley could have fled to protect himself but instead accepted the risk of confronting the armed attacker. Pearson was taken to Tampa General Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
“He didn’t have to stop. He could have run and protected his own life, too. He took up a tactical position when he saw the suspect coming and made a decision,” the sheriff said.
Authorities investigate the deadly aftermath
Hillsborough County deputies responded to the campus and escorted workers from the building. Body-camera footage released after the incident showed the chaotic evacuation and the law enforcement response at the Tampa-area business park.
The shooting left Selmon and Pearson dead. Officials said Fraley’s intervention ended the threat before Pearson could attack more people. Authorities continued reviewing the threats, the sequence of events at the campus and the actions of those involved.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Pearson allegedly threatened a collections law office over a $2,500 debt. |
| 2 | Pearson forced his way onto the Brandon campus with a rifle and handgun. |
| 3 | Learning adviser LeAnne Selmon was fatally shot during the attack. |
| 4 | Security officer John Fraley shot Pearson five times after taking a tactical position. |
| 5 | Deputies evacuated employees and continued investigating the incident. |
Summary
The Brandon campus shooting followed alleged threats linked to a delinquent credit card account. Pearson killed an employee after entering the property and was stopped by Fraley, whose military background and security training enabled him to confront the threat. The incident underscores the importance of advance threat reporting, coordinated security planning and rapid action during an active attack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stopped the attacker?
John Fraley, a Marine veteran working as a Citibank security officer, confronted and fatally shot the attacker.
Where did the shooting occur?
The shooting occurred at a Citibank corporate campus in Brandon, Florida, in the Tampa area.
What led to the attack?
Officials said the suspect became angry over a $2,500 delinquent credit card debt and allegedly threatened a law office handling collections for the bank.
Who was killed?
Authorities identified the victim as 41-year-old Citibank learning adviser LeAnne Selmon. The suspect, Jacob Pearson, also died after being shot by Fraley.
