Law enforcement officials have identified Jacob Pearson as the suspect in a shooting incident at a Citibank branch in Florida. According to investigators, the shooting occurred after Pearson was informed of the outcome of a debt case in which he was involved, resulting in a smaller settlement than he had anticipated.
At a press conference on November 5, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office revealed 35-year-old Pearson as the suspect in a recent incident. Pearson, a married father of one, has no prior criminal history. According to Sheriff Chad Chronister, Pearson allegedly targeted Citibank employees, holding them responsible for their debt.
A recent press release from the Harris County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) stated that Pearson allegedly made threatening statements towards Citibank after being contacted regarding a lawsuit related to an outstanding debt of approximately $2,500.
During the press conference, Chronister characterized Pearson as being extremely upset following a court summons issued for a preliminary hearing in February, specifically related to a lower amount in the case.
Hours before the shooting, Pearson made a threatening phone call to the attorney's office, warning that he would bring an AR-15 rifle and an anti-ballistic vest to the trial if his demands were not met.
Following a warning from Pearson's lawyer, Citibank's chief security officer was notified by the company's security personnel. This led to the Orlando Police Department being alerted to the situation. However, upon attempting to verify Pearson's location, the police were unable to locate him at his Orlando residence when he arrived.
According to Chronister, authorities inquired about the wife's whereabouts, to which she responded she was unaware, and also reported that Pearson seemed visibly agitated at the time.
The Orlando Police Department relayed the information to Citibank's security team, who subsequently notified the Harris County Sheriff's Office that the individuals in question were unknown to them and their intentions remained unclear.
Two Harris County Sheriff's Office agents were en route to the Citibank office when the suspect, Pearson, drove his vehicle through a security gate before exiting with a rifle. Following this incident, security personnel reported hearing gunfire coming from the yard.
According to Chronister, the suspect, Pearson, initially targeted a Citibank employee, 41-year-old Leanne Selman, shooting her multiple times. Due to malfunctions with his rifle, Pearson retreated to his vehicle to retrieve a pistol. Upon returning, he allegedly approached Selman, who was attempting to cling to life, and delivered a fatal shot.
A security guard, John Fraley, positioned himself in the men's bathroom in preparation to confront the suspect, Pearson. Upon Pearson's entry into the office cafeteria, Fraley confronted him and fired his weapon, striking Pearson five times.
Citibank Security and Research Services employee Selman suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene, while Pearson, who was also involved in the incident, succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
Vice President and Chief Intelligence Analyst Fraley has been acknowledged as a hero, according to Chronister, who described the recognition as straightforward.
A heroic guard responded swiftly to the initial gunfire by immediately approaching the threat and neutralizing it within a short time frame.
