Armed Citibank Guard Drops Gunman at Florida Campus Attack
A Citibank security guard named Fraley shot a gunman five times inside a restroom on a sprawling Hillsborough County corporate campus, and the sheriff says that single response ended a rampage that could have killed many more people. The suspect, identified as a 35-year-old man named Pearson, drove his car through a gate on Wednesday and into a courtyard where employees sat. He got out shooting. Sheriff Chad Chronister says his rifle jammed after it struck 41-year-old LeAnne Selmon. Pearson returned to his car, grabbed a handgun, and fired at Selmon from close range. He then walked into a cafeteria hunting for more victims. Fraley took a tactical position in a men's restroom and opened fire.
Key Details
The sheriff's account and the reporting built on it lay out the timeline and the suspect's motive. Investigators say the shooting grew out of a $2,500 debt. Here is what has been reported so far:
- Motive: A $2,500 debt owed to Citibank. The suspect received a court summons over the bill on Wednesday morning.
- Threat: Pearson called the third-party attorney Citibank hired to collect the debt and allegedly threatened the office. Fox 13 reported that he said he would show up with an AR-15, a bulletproof vest, and his insanity unless the case was dropped.
- Suspect: A 35-year-old married father of a 7-year-old child, who left his Orlando home before the attack.
- Entry: He crashed through a campus gate and into a courtyard full of seated employees.
- Victim: LeAnne Selmon, 41, was struck during the first volley. Pearson fired again at short range after retrieving a handgun from his car.
- Response: Fraley fired five rounds that struck Pearson. Chronister praised the guard for holding his position rather than running.
- Policy: Chronister said Citibank allows former law enforcement and military personnel to carry handguns on the job. Reporting has not clarified whether that policy covers only security staff or all employees on the campus.
- Open questions: It is unclear whether a sheriff's deputy was on the grounds when Pearson arrived.
Background
Florida has allowed permitless carry since July 1, 2023, after the Legislature passed HB 543 and Governor Ron DeSantis signed it. Residents twenty-one and older can carry openly or concealed without a state permit. The state also protects lawfully owned firearms stored in locked vehicles in parking lots under Florida Statute 790.251, which bars most employers from banning them there. That statute is the reason many Florida workers keep guns in their cars, even at workplaces with posted rules.
The legal framework for judging gun laws shifted in June 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court decided New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. The Court ruled that the government must show a firearms regulation fits within the nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation. That ruling changed how courts review carry restrictions. It did not change the rules that apply to private employers. A company with a gun-free policy is not bound by the Second Amendment, and an employer can choose to allow or ban firearms on its property.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
If you work for a company with a gun-free policy, this case should change how you think about your daily risk. Workplace rules do not stop a determined attacker. They only stop people who follow the rules. Pearson threatened a law firm office by phone before he drove to a corporate campus, which means the warning signs existed long before the gate went down. Watch for them. A workplace dispute, a court date, or a threat from a customer or former customer should trigger a conversation with your security team about exits, lockdown procedures, and where you would shelter.
Florida residents should confirm their rights before they walk into work. If your employer bans firearms on its premises, Florida Statute 790.251 may still let you store a lawfully owned gun in your locked vehicle in the employer's lot. Check your own company's written policy. Ask HR to explain it in writing. Know what the rule covers before you rely on it.
DownRange Analysis
Bruen does not reach this case. Citibank is a private company, so the Second Amendment does not force it to allow or ban firearms on its campus. That reality is the core issue. The company decided to let some security staff and some veterans carry, and it left everyone else unarmed. Fraley's gun stopped this attack. The company's policy will likely come under scrutiny, and it should. Employers who want armed defenders need to decide whether to extend that option to employees who have the training and the license to carry.
For gun owners, the action items are simple. Get trained beyond the minimum. Practice drawing and shooting under stress. Carry the same way every day. If your workplace bans guns, use the parking lot statute where it applies, and never break company rules without understanding the legal and employment consequences. Build a plan for the first 60 seconds of an attack, because that is when Fraley made his decision.
