An armed, courageous security guard and Marine veteran is being credited today with saving perhaps scores of lives at a massive Citibank corporate facility in Tampa on Wednesday.
The deadly encounter began when a married father of a seven-year-old received a call from an attorney’s office concerning a bill. His response was chilling.
“Unless you want me to go over there with my AR-15, my bulletproof vest, and my insanity, you (expletive) cancel this court case,” he reportedly told the collection caller.
Investigators believe suspect simply wanted to kill as many as possible
The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Jacob Pearson of Orlando, apparently drove to the campus seeking revenge over a $2,500 debt he’d been summoned for. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said the man crashed through the gate and executed 41-year-old Leanne Selman in the courtyard.
Pearson then allegedly stormed the cafeteria intending to spread more carnage, but that’s when he encountered an armed defender.
The Citibank security guard, John Fraley, took a defensive position at the men’s bathroom before firing five bullets into the shirtless, raging suspect. Pearson did not survive.
Good guy with gun stopped bad situation from becoming infinitely worse
A welfare check of the alleged shooter’s residence after the threatening call was too late, as he had already left without telling his family where he was going. Some 3,200 workers filled the Tampa facility.
One of them was Fraley, who was later described as a “highly trained Marine Corps veteran.” On Wednesday, he filled his dual role as security officer and vice president of operations for the site’s security team as well as anyone could expect.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister told the media that the senseless violence could have been far worse.
“He was there, intent on one purpose, and that purpose was to hunt any human being he could find and kill,” Chronister said. “Because of the heroic actions of this Citibank security officer, vice president of operations, his reign of terror ended before it even began.”
There’s no better way to show your patriotism than with merch that speaks before you do.
Defend America is more than a name, it’s a stand for freedom, resilience, and the values this country was built on. Every tee, hat, and mug is a symbol of unapologetic pride. Wear it loud, wear it proud, and let the world know: freedom isn’t negotiable.
Click the link below to join the movement.