HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — An armed Citibank security guard fatally shot a gunman who killed a woman at the company’s Sabal Center campus near Brandon on Wednesday, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Four other people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities had not clarified whether those injuries resulted from gunfire, a vehicle or another cause.
Gunman drove through fence before shooting
Chief Deputy Frank Losat said the suspect drove over medians and through a secured fence into an outdoor dining area where people were eating lunch.
The man got out carrying a rifle and fatally shot a woman before entering the building’s cafeteria, according to Losat.
An armed Citibank security guard confronted the suspect at approximately 12:15 p.m. and shot him, investigators said.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect was transported to Tampa General Hospital at 12:24 p.m. and pronounced dead at 1:12 p.m.
Deputies arrived within one minute
The Sheriff’s Office said its dispatch center began receiving reports of shots fired at 12:11 p.m. The first marked patrol unit arrived within one minute, and deputies immediately entered the building.
More than 3,200 people were on campus when the shooting occurred.
The response included 367 Hillsborough County deputies, along with local, state and federal partners. More than 400 law enforcement personnel responded in total, including SWAT, aviation, drone and K-9 units.
Body-camera and aviation footage released by the Sheriff’s Office shows deputies entering the campus and escorting employees outside with their hands raised.
Sheriff credits security team
Sheriff Chad Chronister credited the on-site security team and responding deputies with preventing further harm.
“This was a tragic situation where a victim was killed by an individual who was intent on killing as many people as possible,” Chronister said in a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities had not released the names of the woman or the suspect in the updates reviewed by Channel 9. At Wednesday’s briefing, Losat did not disclose a motive or say whether the two knew each other.
Investigators seek video
The Sheriff’s Office is conducting a homicide investigation and is asking anyone with footage related to the incident to submit it to videos@teamhcso.com.
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
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