Two people were killed, including a gunman who opened fire at a Citibank office campus in the Tampa, Florida, area Wednesday, prompting a massive law enforcement response as employees scrambled for safety, police said.
The shooting unfolded shortly after noon at the banking giant’s campus in Brandon, Florida, about 15 miles from Tampa, where approximately 3,200 people were working at the time, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Chief Deputy Frank Losat said the suspect drove a vehicle through a fence and into a courtyard where employees were eating lunch before opening fire with a rifle, killing a woman.
An armed security guard confronted the gunman inside the cafeteria, where the two exchanged fire. The security guard fatally shot the suspect, bringing the attack to an end, authorities said.
“Was there a potential for further violence? Absolutely,” Losat said. “So kudos to that security guard.”
The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital where he later died, Losat said. Four other people were hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Losat did not disclose the identities of the suspect, victim, or security guard involved in the incident. Investigators were working to determine a motive and whether the suspect had a connection to the victim or the banking campus.
More than 300 sheriff’s deputies and law enforcement officers responded to the scene, with the first patrol unit arriving approximately one minute after emergency calls began coming in around 12:11 p.m., Losat said.
The campus consists of four three-story office buildings. Authorities spent roughly 2.5 hours searching the complex to ensure there were no additional threats.
Citigroup confirmed the incident and said it was working with investigators.
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“We are aware of an incident impacting our site in Tampa, Florida, and are coordinating with law enforcement, the company said in a statement.
Footage from the scene showed employees evacuating the buildings as heavily armed officers secured the surrounding area. Hundreds of workers sought shelter at nearby hotels while deputies established a reunification location for employees and their families at the Staybridge Suites in Tampa East.