Florida Gunman Allegedly Killed Citibank Employee Over $2,500 Debt After Threatening to Bring an AR-15 to the Company

A $2,500 credit card debt allegedly became the motive behind a deadly attack at a major Citibank office complex in Florida, where an employee was shot and killed in broad daylight. Authorities say 35-year-old Jacob Pearson traveled from Orlando to the company’s Tampa-area campus on November 4, 2026, carrying a rifle, a handgun and 90 rounds of ammunition. The attack claimed the life of 41-year-old Leanne Selman, a longtime Citibank employee who investigators say had no personal connection to the gunman.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, Pearson had become furious after receiving a court summons over an unpaid credit card balance of $2,556.40. Around 9 a.m. that morning, he allegedly called a law firm handling debt collection for Citibank and threatened to come to the company armed with an AR-15 and body armor unless the legal proceedings were canceled. The law firm reportedly alerted Citibank’s security department, which contacted police in Orlando and the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Officers were attempting to locate Pearson, but he had already left his home. His wife reportedly told police that he appeared angry.

Just after noon, Pearson allegedly drove through a security gate and into the company’s courtyard. Armed with a rifle, he approached the first employee he encountered and opened fire, striking Selman three times, according to the sheriff. When the rifle malfunctioned, Pearson allegedly returned to his vehicle, retrieved a handgun and shot her again as she attempted to crawl away. Selman was pronounced dead at the scene. She had worked in Citibank’s human resources department for nine years and was remembered by the company as a beloved member of its workforce.

The violence did not end there. Pearson reportedly entered the building and moved toward a cafeteria, where employees were eating lunch. People ran for safety as the attack unfolded. A Citibank security executive identified as John Fraley, a Marine Corps veteran and the company’s vice president of security operations, had taken cover in a men’s restroom after hearing gunshots. When Pearson encountered him, the two exchanged gunfire. Fraley struck Pearson five times, ending the attack. Pearson was transported to a hospital, where he later died.

Investigators said Pearson had brought 90 rounds of ammunition to the campus and fired approximately 15 rounds before he was stopped. Around 3,200 employees were at the complex that day, and authorities believe the security officer’s intervention prevented the situation from becoming even more deadly. Four other people were taken for medical evaluation following the chaos, including individuals with minor injuries and someone who experienced chest pains. All were later released. The company allowed employees to work remotely while it began providing support to colleagues who witnessed the shooting.

The tragedy has left Selman’s family, coworkers and the wider community grieving. Sheriff Chronister said the gunman appeared to have targeted Citibank employees because he blamed the company for his debt, even though Selman had no known connection to him. A dispute involving a few thousand dollars had turned into a deadly attack that took an innocent employee’s life and placed hundreds of people in danger. Authorities have described the shooting as a targeted act of violence, while the security officer’s response brought the attack to an end before more people were killed.

Source: Law&Crime