Insets: Jacob Pearson and Leanne Selman. Background: Pearson after he allegedly killed Selman at a Citibank corporate office in Tampa, Florida. (Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida man allegedly drove to a Citibank corporate campus employing more than 3,000 people and planned to “hunt any person he could find and kill” after becoming enraged over a $2,500 debt.
Jacob Pearson, 35, is accused of killing Leanne Selman, 41, around noon Wednesday before a “heroic” security guard shot him. During a press conference, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said Pearson had called a Citibank attorney that morning, furious after receiving a court summons over an overdue $2,500 payment.
“Unless you want me to go over there with my AR 15, my bulletproof vest, and my insanity, you m—f—ing cancel this court case,” Pearson allegedly said, according to Chronister. “Do you understand me? There are only an hour and three minutes away, so the last thing you want to do is f— with me.”
The attorney, alarmed by the threat, notified Citibank’s corporate security team, which began looking into Pearson. Investigators determined that he lived in Orlando, prompting local police to visit his home. His wife told officers that Pearson had left earlier that morning and was angry about something.
The security guard also alerted the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. As deputies arrived and spoke with the guard, they heard gunfire, Chronister said.
“Courtyard! Courtyard!” the security guard told them.
Pearson allegedly drove through a gate and into the courtyard. He then exited his vehicle, approached the first person he saw and shot her three times, according to Chronister. The rifle subsequently jammed.
“This suspect goes back, returns back to his car, retrieves his handgun, walks back over to the victim, who’s trying to crawl away with her life, and executes her,” the sheriff said.
Pearson then entered the cafeteria, sending people who were eating lunch rushing for safety. He continued deeper into the building.
“He takes a tactical position in the men’s restroom, knowing that he heard the gunshots, he hears the door open, and he sees a suspect coming, and he engages this suspect,” Chronister said. “He fires rounds, and now he finds himself in a gunfight because the suspect is returning gunfire. He fires some more rounds, and he’s able to strike the suspect five times.”
Paramedics transported Pearson to a hospital, where he later died.
Selman, who had worked for Citibank for nine years, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Chronister credited the security guard, a retired Marine, with bringing the attack to an end before more people were harmed.
“Because of the heroic actions of this Citibank security officer, vice president of operations, his reign of terror ended before it even began,” Chronister said.
The post Man armed with 90 rounds of ammunition ‘executed’ woman at Citibank because he was upset about $2,500 debt: Sheriff first appeared on Law & Crime.