Citibank Security Guard John Fraley Stops Gunman at Florida Campus
The Marine veteran fatally shot Jacob Pearson, who killed a coworker and crashed through a gate in Brandon.
By Tyler Khalil ·
John Fraley, a security officer and Marine veteran, fatally shot an active shooter on Thursday at the Citibank Center campus in Brandon, Florida. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister identified Fraley as the individual who ended the attack. Pearson, 35, had driven a sedan through a campus gate and began targeting employees. Chronister stated that Fraley held a tactical position and fired five shots to stop the gunman.
Pearson entered the corporate setting after a dispute over a delinquent $2,500 credit card balance. The sheriff explained that Pearson became violent after receiving a court summons related to the debt. Around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Pearson called an attorney’s office hired for collections. He reportedly made threats over the phone before leaving his home in Orlando.
Citibank’s head of security, a retired Secret Service agent, assessed the threat level as high. The agency contacted the Orlando Police Department for a welfare check and requested the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to station deputies on campus. Despite these precautions, Pearson arrived at the Brandon site and crashed through the entrance gate into the courtyard.
Upon exiting his vehicle, Pearson retrieved a rifle and approached 41-year-old learning advisor LeAnne Selmon. Chronister said Pearson shot Selmon three times. When the rifle malfunctioned, the suspect returned to his car to retrieve a handgun. He then returned to Selmon, who was attempting to crawl away, and fired again. The sheriff described the attacker as intent on hunting and killing anyone he could find.
After the initial shooting, Pearson moved into a cafeteria to look for more victims. He encountered Fraley, who had positioned himself in the men's restroom. Fraley opened fire and struck Pearson five times. The security officer was described by Chronister as someone empowered to carry a handgun due to previous military or law enforcement training. The sheriff noted that Fraley could have retreated but chose to engage to protect others.
Pearson was transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment. He died from his injuries at the facility. Chronister stated that Pearson was married and had a 7-year-old child. The sheriff credited Fraley’s actions with ending the threat before it could expand further within the campus.
Fraley serves as a vice president of operations and security guard for Citibank. The incident occurred at the company’s headquarters in the Tampa Bay area. Selmon was the only confirmed fatality among the employees before the gunman was stopped.
