Citibank Tampa employee killed after shooter sought $2,500 debt
A gunman drove 90 miles from Orlando to shoot a human resources worker in a courtyard, claiming a grudge over a credit card balance.
By Yasmin Nasser ·
Leanne Selman, a human resources employee at Citibank’s Tampa campus, died after a man opened fire in a lunch courtyard, killing the first person he saw. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Thursday that the attacker, Jacob Pearson, targeted the complex specifically because of a dispute over an unpaid credit card debt of $2,500.
Pearson, 35, had no prior criminal record. The conflict began when Citibank filed a complaint in Orange County on Oct. 23, alleging that Pearson owed $2,556.40 in debt. Court records show the bill was dated July 4, and a hearing was scheduled for Feb. 15. Scott Florin, an attorney specializing in consumer credit, noted that Florida banks typically wait at least six months before suing for default, a period that allows late fees to accumulate.
About three hours before the shooting on Wednesday, Pearson called an attorney affiliated with Citibank from his home in Orlando. He threatened to arrive with an AR-15 rifle, a bulletproof vest, and his "insanity" unless the lawyer canceled the hearing. Chronister said police later went to Pearson’s Orlando home, but his wife told them he had already left. By the time deputies arrived at the Tampa complex to provide extra security, Pearson had already begun his attack.
Pearson drove roughly 90 miles to the campus and crashed his vehicle through a fence. He plowed into a courtyard where about 3,200 employees were eating lunch. He exited his car with a rifle and shot Selman three times before the weapon jammed. He then retrieved a handgun from his car and shot Selman again. The sheriff stated that Pearson had "zero connection" to the 41-year-old victim, who had worked for Citibank for nine years.
Pearson carried 90 rounds of ammunition into the building but fired only 15 times before being stopped. He moved through a cafeteria after the initial volley. A member of Citibank’s armed security team shot him five times. Pearson was pronounced dead at a hospital. No other employees were shot, though four people were treated for minor injuries sustained while fleeing.
Ed Skyler, a spokesman for Citigroup, described Selman as a beloved employee. Richard Pearson, the shooter’s father, said he last spoke with his son by phone several weeks ago and heard no signs of financial distress or violent intent. Skyler said the company would allow employees to work remotely in the near future so they would not have to return to the scene of the incident immediately. Investigators completed evidence gathering at the campus by early Thursday.
