Citibank workers recover items after Brandon shooting left 3,200 staff behind
Employees returned to the Florida campus on Thursday to retrieve belongings they abandoned during a chaotic evacuation following the death of a human resources worker.
By Anthony Foster ·
Approximately 3,200 employees were inside the Citibank Center in Brandon, Florida, when a gunman opened fire, prompting a rapid evacuation that left personal effects scattered throughout the building.
Hillsborough County detectives identified the victim as LeAnne Selman, a 41-year-old human resources employee who had worked for Citibank for nine years. Investigators stated that Selman was eating lunch outside the building when the shooter drove his vehicle through an exterior fence onto the campus. The department confirmed that Selman had no known connection to the gunman.
Staff members were granted access to the offices on Thursday to collect the items they had dropped during the initial escape. These items included bags, eyeglasses, and shoes. Citibank spokesperson Ed Skyler said the company is providing resources to help staff cope with the loss. He described the past two days as heart-breaking and expressed hope for better days ahead.
One employee who asked to remain anonymous described the scene from the third floor. He initially believed the noise signaled a fire drill until he heard screams and warnings about a gunman. He and six coworkers locked themselves in a small room to wait for the threat to subside. The employee recalled hearing colleagues shout that someone had a gun and that they needed to move quickly.
The employee, who has a military background, said he attempted to keep the group calm and make logical decisions. He noted that most of the people in the room were women who had never heard gunfire before. He expressed concern that the large number of fleeing employees could lead to people being trampled in the exit areas.
The employee credited an armed security guard with saving lives during the incident. He said the guard secured the scene and engaged the suspect before police arrived. Skyler stated that Citibank is giving employees time and flexibility to process the event. The company will not force staff to return to their desks before they are ready and is offering support resources as the workforce grooms Selman.
