An armed security guard fatally shot the gunman after authorities say he breached the Brandon campus and killed a female employee.
BRANDON, Fla. — A gunman drove through a fence at a sprawling Citibank business campus outside Tampa, killed a woman and moved into a cafeteria before an armed security guard fatally shot him, authorities said. Four other people were hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The Nov. 4 attack unfolded while about 3,200 people were working at the Citibank complex in Brandon, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said the gunman crashed his vehicle into an outdoor courtyard near tables where employees were eating lunch, then opened fire with a rifle. Investigators described the incident as targeted but had not publicly identified a motive or said whether the gunman and the woman who died knew each other.
Chief Deputy Frank Losat said the gunman fatally shot the woman outside before entering the cafeteria. An armed security guard confronted him there, and the two exchanged gunfire. The guard shot the suspect, who was taken to Tampa General Hospital and later died. Authorities credited the security officer’s response with preventing the possibility of additional violence inside a campus occupied by thousands of workers.
The four other injured people were taken to a hospital with injuries authorities described as non-life-threatening. Officials initially did not specify whether those people had been struck by gunfire, injured when the suspect drove into the courtyard or hurt in another way during the attack. Authorities also had not publicly released their identities in the reports reviewed Thursday.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office mounted a large response after the first reports of gunfire. More than 360 deputies were sent to the complex, according to authorities. Deputies in tactical gear spent about 2 1/2 hours searching and clearing the building where the shooting occurred as well as neighboring office buildings. Employees who had sheltered in locked rooms and other areas were escorted out as officers moved through the campus.
Witnesses described a sudden rush of panic after the vehicle breached the perimeter. Citibank Vice President David Dzien told The Associated Press that he was returning from lunch when he saw a sedan crash through a fence about 150 yards away. He then heard a rapid series of sounds that he realized were gunfire as people near the vehicle scattered. Dzien said he ran into a building and later evacuated through a fire exit.
Hundreds of employees fled to nearby businesses as law enforcement secured the property. The general manager of the nearby Sheraton Tampa Brandon Hotel told the AP that about 300 Citibank workers sought shelter there. Hotel employees provided water and food while some workers used rooms to make calls or recover from the disruption. A reunification site also was established for employees and relatives as authorities continued clearing the complex.
Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser confirmed in a message to employees that a Citi worker had been killed. She said the company was continuing to gather information and cooperate with law enforcement. Fraser also said the Tampa-area campus had been secured and that the company was adding security at other locations as necessary following the shooting.
Sheriff Chad Chronister said preliminary information indicated the attack was targeted. However, officials had not publicly explained what led investigators to that assessment, and authorities had not announced a motive or a known relationship between the gunman and the victim. The identities of both people who died also had not been released in the initial official accounts reviewed Thursday.
The investigation remained active as detectives worked to establish the gunman’s motive, his connection to the campus and the full sequence of events. Authorities were also reviewing evidence and witness information from the scene. Citigroup said it was cooperating with investigators while maintaining additional security measures following the attack.
Author note: Last updated November 5, 2026.