Citibank Shooting Suspect Threatened Bank Hours Before Attack Because He Was ‘Upset’ Over Court Summons for $2,500 Debt: Police

Jacob Pearson on Nov. 4, 2026 in Brandon, Fla.Credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister identified Jacob Pearson as the gunman in the Citibank office shooting in Brandon, Fla., on Wednesday, Nov. 4

Pearson allegedly targeted Citibank employees after receiving a summons in a small claims debt case, police said

“He targeted Citibank employees yesterday, holding them responsible for his debt,” Chronister alleged during a Thursday, Nov. 5 press conference

Authorities identified the suspect in a Citibank office shooting in Florida, alleging that Jacob Pearson opened fire after being summoned for a small claims debt case.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) identified 35-year-old Pearson as the suspect in a press conference on Thursday, Nov. 5. Pearson, a married father of one with no criminal record, “targeted Citibank employees yesterday, holding them responsible for his debt,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said.

Pearson “made threats against Citibank after being contacted about a court summons over a debt of approximately $2,500,” according to a HCSO news release on Thursday.

In the press conference, Chronister described Pearson as “irate” over the court summons. He was summoned to appear for a pre-trial conference in the small claims case in February.

Jacob PearsonCredit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Chronister said that hours before the fatal shooting, Pearson threatened violence against the company, calling the attorney’s office to say, “U’nless you want me to go over there with my AR-15, my bulletproof vest and my insanity, you motherf---er 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.’ ”

In response to Pearson’s threats, the attorney’s office contacted Citibank’s head of security. The company’s security then alerted the Orlando Police Department (OPD). The department attempted to perform a welfare check on Pearson, but when they arrived at Pearson’s Orlando home, he was gone.

Leanne SelmanCredit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Authorities asked his wife about his location, but she didn’t know, Chronister said, adding that she informed authorities Pearson “appeared to be angry.” The OPD relayed the information to Citibank security, who then reported the threat to HCSO, noting they did not know his whereabouts or whether he intended to carry out his threats.

As two HCSO officers were en route to the Citibank office, Pearson drove his car through a security gate before exiting armed with his rifle, according to Chronister. The security team then heard gunshots being fired in the courtyard.

Chronister said Pearson then approached the first Citibank employee he saw, 41-year-old Leanne Selman, before he shot her three times. His rifle began to malfunction, which prompted him to return to his car to get his handgun. “[He] walks back over to the victim, who’s trying to crawl away with her life, and executes her,” Chronister said.

As the gunshots were fired, security guard John Fraley heard the shooting and assumed position in the men’s restroom to confront Pearson. Once Pearson entered the office cafeteria, the 38-year-old security guard confronted and shot Pearson five times.

Pearson was transported to a local hospital, where he died. Selman, who worked as a Learning Advisor for Citi Security and Investigative Services at Citibank for nine years, was pronounced dead at the scene.

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Fraley, whose official title is Vice President and Intelligence Lead Analyst, has been recognized as a hero, “plain and simple,” Chronister said.

“In a moment when most people would run away from danger, this guard ran toward it and stopped the threat within minutes of the first shots being fired,” Chronister said. “With more than 3,200 people on that campus, there is no doubt that these quick and courageous actions saved lives. We are deeply grateful to the entire Citibank security team for their training, their preparedness, and their bravery under unimaginable pressure.”

Source: Crime