Armed driver crashes into Citibank Center, kills woman in Brandon
A rifle-wielding man drove his car through a fence line and into an outdoor dining area, killing one person before a security guard shot him inside the cafeteria.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
Thousands of office workers at the Citibank Center in Brandon found themselves trapped inside three-story buildings Wednesday afternoon after an armed man crashed a sedan onto the campus. The impact sent the vehicle through a secure fence line and into an outdoor dining area where people were eating lunch. The driver, who investigators said was holding a rifle, exited the wrecked four-door vehicle and walked toward a seated woman. He shot her once, and she died.
The suspect then moved indoors toward the cafeteria. There, he was confronted by an armed security officer who shot him dead, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Frank Losat. Paramedics transported the wounded gunman to Tampa General Hospital, where medical staff later pronounced him dead. Four other individuals were injured during the incident, though the specific causes and severity of their wounds have not been released.
Emergency officials reported that approximately 3,200 Citibank workers were inside the facilities when the gunfire started. The event triggered a massive response involving 400 law enforcement personnel. This force included 367 Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies, specialized SWAT teams in tactical gear, fire rescue crews, and state and federal partners. First responders spent two and a half hours clearing and searching six or seven buildings across the complex.
The Citibank Center is part of the Sabal Park Office Development near the intersection of I-4 and I-75. DPR Construction designed the 588,000-square-foot campus to house about 2,500 employees. The site consists of four 130,000-square-foot office buildings and a 138,000-square-foot amenities building. The complex features dining services, a fitness center, child care facilities, and personal service shops including a drug store, dry cleaner, and hairdresser.
Authorities have not yet identified the shooter. It remains unclear whether he previously worked at the Citibank Center or knew the woman he killed. Chief Deputy Frank Losat confirmed the sequence of events during a public briefing. The suspect was described as armed with a rifle when he plowed his car over medians and grass before breaching the perimeter fence.
