1 killed, suspect dead in shooting at Florida business complex: Authorities
An "active threat" was reported at a Citibank office complex in the Tampa area.
A Citibank employee was shot and killed at a business complex in Florida on Wednesday, according to local authorities and company officials.
The suspect was fatally shot by a security guard during an exchange of gunfire inside a cafeteria in the Tampa-area Citibank office complex, according to authorities.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said it responded to an "active threat" at the Citibank complex. Authorities received multiple 911 calls reporting a shooting around 12:11 p.m., according to Hillsborough County Chief Deputy Frank Losat.
The suspect initially drove his four-door sedan through a fenced area and crashed into an outdoor seating area where multiple people were having lunch, according to Losat.
"Upon the car coming to rest, the suspect exits the vehicle with a rifle, approaches the female, and she is shot," Losat said during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The victim's name is not being released at this time and is pending full identification and next-of-kin notification, he said. She was a Citi employee, the company's CEO, Jane Fraser, confirmed in an internal message sent Wednesday.
The Citibank security guard engaged the suspect in the building's cafeteria, where the two exchanged gunfire, according to Losat. The suspect was shot by the security guard and taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, he said. Authorities have a pending identification of the suspect and are not releasing it at this time, Losat said.
The suspect may have had a financial grievance, and authorities are investigating whether it's tied to the bank, sources told ABC News.
Earlier Wednesday, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said on social media that, based on preliminary information, "we believe this is a targeted incident." Though during Wednesday's presser, Losat said investigators have to "work through details" and that information is subject to change.
Investigators are "still working" to determine if the suspect and shooting victim knew each other, and are also conducting interviews with Citibank employees, Losat said. There were some 3,200 Citibank employees on the property at the time, he said.
"With that many witnesses, up to 3,200 witnesses, we will be doing interviews well into the night," Losat said.
In her message to employees, the Citi CEO said the company is working closely with law enforcement and "still learning the details of what happened."
"This is a terrible tragedy for our Citi family," Fraser said. "My heart goes out to our colleague's loved ones, all our colleagues in Tampa and everyone affected by this horrific act of violence. I am grateful to the brave actions of our security team who prevented this awful day from being even worse."
Losat also commended the security guard who "stopped the threat," saying there was "potential" for further violence.
Four people sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the incident, Losat said. It is unclear at this time if they were struck by the vehicle, he said.
"We are very fluid at this stage of the investigation," Losat said. "This is a sad day for everybody involved, the Tampa Bay area and surrounding communities and the law enforcement partners."
The incident prompted a massive law enforcement response, including heavily armed deputies and armored vehicles. A law enforcement source told ABC News that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will be responding to the scene.Â
Authorities have cleared all the buildings in the complex, according to Losat. The crime scene is "very large" and will be processed possibly into Thursday, he said.
The Tampa campus is "secure," and additional security will be added at all other Citi "as necessary," the Citi CEO said.
"Today's news is incredibly distressing, and we have counseling and other resources available to help you through the difficult days ahead," she said.
ABC News' Luke Barr and Jason Volack contributed to this report.
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