SEBRING, Fla.—A gunman who opened fire inside a Florida bank killed five people before surrendering to SWAT negotiators, police said on Jan. 23.
Zephen Xaver, 21, was arrested after the shooting at a SunTrust branch, Sebring police Chief Karl Hoglund said at a news conference.
“Today’s been a tragic day in our community,” Hogland said. “We’ve suffered significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime.”
The victims were not immediately identified.
A man called police dispatch Wednesday afternoon and reported that he had fired shots inside the bank, Hoglund said.
Initial negotiations failed to persuade the barricaded man to leave the bank, so the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team entered the building to continue negotiations, and the man eventually surrendered, he said.
Police didn’t say what charges Xaver would face or indicate a motive.
Gov. Ron DeSantis was in the region for an infrastructure tour and traveled to Sebring after news of the shooting broke. He said the Florida Department of Law Enforcement would assist Sebring police and the Highlands sheriff’s office in any way possible.
“Obviously, this is an individual who needs to face very swift and exacting justice,” DeSantis said of the gunman.
This is a terrible day for Sebring, Highlands County and for the state of Florida. Casey and I extend our most sincere condolences and sympathies to the families and loved ones of the victims. The people of Florida stand with the community of Sebring.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 23, 2019
I’ve directed FDLE to provide the necessary resources at the state level to assist with the ongoing investigation. This is an individual that needs to face very swift and exacting justice.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 23, 2019
I want to thank both the Sebring Police Department and the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office for their response and continued efforts during this tragedy.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 23, 2019
Sen. Rick Scott also sent a tweet that he had also spoken with Blackman, adding, “Ann and I are sending prayers to those involved.”
I just spoke with Highlands County Sheriff Paul Blackman to get an update on the shooting in Sebring, FL.
Follow @HighCoSheriff for continued updates. Ann and I are sending prayers to those involved. https://t.co/CQg6zJxmT2
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 23, 2019
An FBI mobile command unit arrived at the bank Wednesday evening to join the investigation.
SunTrust Chairman and CEO Bill Rogers released a statement saying the bank is deeply saddened by the tragic shooting.
“We are working with officials and dedicating ourselves to fully addressing the needs of all the individuals and families involved,” Rogers said. “Our entire team mourns this terrible loss.”
Violent Crime in the US
The number of murders and violent crimes committed in the United States dropped slightly in 2017, according to new crime statistics released in September 2018.
“Crime declined nationwide last year, consistent with our earlier analyses of 2017 data in the nation’s 30 largest cities,” Ames Grawert, senior counsel for the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice in New York, told the Washington Times.
“That’s the good news. The bad news is that even while crime is falling, the number of Americans incarcerated remains near-record highs. Now is the time to address the problem.”
The number of cases of manslaughter and murder dropped 0.7 percent in 2017 from the prior year, the report said.
Rapes rose by 3 percent and aggravated assault rose by 1 percent, but overall violent crimes dropped 0.2 percent, the report added.
The Epoch Times Reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report.