A gunman shot and killed an employee of Citibank and left several others injured during a shooting that occurred this Wednesday in an office complex in Brandon, near Tampa, Florida.
The assailant later died in a hospital after being shot by a security guard who was able to stop him.
The attack occurred around noon at the Sabal Center, also known as Citibank Center, a complex of four buildings where more than 3,200 workers were located.
The attacker crashed a car into an outdoor area where several people were having lunch, exited the vehicle armed with a rifle, and fatally shot a woman.
Four other individuals were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.
The security guard who confronted the attacker was also injured during the gunfire exchange.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office later released the 911 calls and body cam videos of the responding officers who attended to the emergency.
The recordings show the arrival of the police at the complex and the evacuation of employees trying to get to safety.
The attacker crossed a fence and shot at an employee
According to the explanation by the deputy chief of the Sheriff's Office, Frank Losat, the suspect arrived driving a four-door gray sedan, crossed several medians and a grassy area, broke through a security fence, and ended up crashing into an outdoor patio where tables were occupied by workers.
After stopping the car, the man got out armed with a rifle, approached a woman, and shot her.
The victim, an employee of Citibank, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The attacker then moved into the interior of the complex, where he was confronted by an armed bank security guard. Both exchanged gunfire inside the cafeteria.
The guard was injured, but managed to reach the attacker, who was taken to Tampa General Hospital around 12:24 p.m. and later died.
The authorities had not publicly disclosed the identities of the murdered woman or the suspect in the initial reports.
They also had not determined whether the injuries of the other four individuals were caused by gunfire or by the vehicle used in the attack.
"There's a shooting in Tampa": 911 calls and police videos are released
The first calls to the emergency service began to be received around 12:11 p.m., when numerous employees were having lunch on the premises.
"We are at the Citibank office. There is a shooting in Tampa," alerted a woman in one of the calls released by the Sheriff's Office.
In another communication, a corporal can be heard reporting gunfire while explaining that the building was being evacuated and that law enforcement was entering from the east side of the complex.
The images from the body cameras show an armed officer running toward the Citibank Center. During his run, a gray car is seen that apparently crashed onto the property.
The police officer then heads to the café, where he locates the suspect. In the recording, the phrase “The shooter is down” can be heard, as several people rush out of the building with their hands raised.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the first deputies arrived about a minute after the emergency calls were received.
Panic among thousands of workers and evacuation of the complex
The shooting surprised thousands of employees during their workday. Some fled the premises while others took shelter in offices and closed rooms until they received instructions from the authorities.
A cafeteria worker reported to CNN that she hid with five others while waiting for the arrival of the police. Some were crying, while others tried to contact their family members.
David Dzien, vice president of Citibank, told the Associated Press that he was returning from lunch when he saw the attacker's car crash through a fence about 450 feet away.
Shortly after, he heard numerous gunshots and saw people running and screaming. He managed to return to the building and escape through an emergency exit.
At the nearby Sheraton Tampa Brandon hotel, around 300 workers found refuge after leaving the banking complex. The staff at the establishment provided them with water, food, and spaces where they could communicate with their families.
Doug Merritt, the father of one of the employees, told Associated Press that his son called him after fleeing the scene. Connection issues complicated communication, and he spent nearly an hour not knowing if his son was safe.
More than 400 personnel participated in the operation
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office mobilized 367 officers, including SWAT teams, air units, drone operators, and canine officers.
With the participation of other local, state, and federal agencies, the deployment exceeded 400 personnel.
The agents searched the four buildings of the complex, evacuated the workers, and checked offices, hallways, and other areas to rule out the presence of any new attackers.
The review operation lasted for more than two hours, as the investigators began collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses.
The intense police activity also affected the nearby Hillsborough College, where students and staff were instructed to stay sheltered.
They are investigating whether the attacker had a dispute with the bank
The sheriff Chad Chronister initially described the shooting as a possible targeted attack and stated that the assailant intended to kill as many people as possible.
Police sources consulted by ABC News pointed to a possible dispute or financial complaint involving the suspect and the banking institution.
However, the authorities had not officially confirmed that hypothesis nor determined if the attacker knew the murdered woman.
Chronister highlighted the intervention of the security guard and the responding officers during the emergency, crediting them with preventing the attack from causing further victims.
The CEO of Citigroup, Jane Fraser, expressed her sorrow over the employee's death and thanked the security team for their response. The company announced additional protective measures and psychological support services for affected workers.
The Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the homicide and has requested the cooperation of anyone who has photographs or recordings related to the attack.
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