Security guard stops gunman who drove into Tampa-area Citibank Center and opened fire, killing a woman

By Joe Sutton, Ray Sanchez, CNN

(CNN) — A security guard stopped a gunman in an exchange of gunfire after the shooter crashed a car into an outdoor area at the Citibank Center complex outside of Tampa and fatally shot a woman, Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Frank Losat said Wednesday.

The security guard was injured and at least four others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries following the lunchtime shooting, Losat said. The shooting also prompted the evacuation of thousands of employees from the sprawling complex in Brandon.

“My first instinct was to call my mother because I’m like, if something was to happen to me, someone has to know,” said a cafeteria employee who requested anonymity because she works at the complex.

She said she sheltered in a room with five others until police arrived. Some cried, while others desperately tried to reach loved ones or texted coworkers for updates.

Losat did not provide details about a possible motive.

“We are aware of an incident impacting our site in Tampa, Florida and are coordinating with law enforcement,” Citi said in a statement to CNN.

In an earlier statement, a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said authorities had responded to an “active threat,” adding that “there is no longer a threat to the public.”

Doug Merritt said he was startled when his son called to say he had fled the Citibank building after hearing gunshots.

“He was very close to it,” Merritt told The Associated Press. “He left all this stuff where he was at and he was able to get out of there.”

Merritt said a poor internet connection made it difficult to reach his son, leaving him unsure for about an hour whether his son was safe.

“I wanted him to get to safety,” he said. “I was upset.”

Video from CNN affiliate Spectrum Bay News 9 showed a large police presence at the scene.

People in the area said they received public safety alerts on their phones about an “active shooter” and urging them to shelter in place.

The Citibank campus includes four three-story office buildings that house thousands of the banking giant’s employees, The Associated Press reports.

Brandon is about 13 miles east of downtown Tampa.

This story has been updated with additional information.

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CNN’s Julia Vargas Jones, Isabel Rosales, Isa Mudannayake and Devon M. Sayers contributed to this report.