‘Senseless’: gunman Zephen Xaver, 21, kills five in Florida bank, calls 911 and surrenders, police say
- Zephen Xaver allegedly phoned police to tell them was opening fire in the SunTrust bank in Sebring
At least five people are dead after an armed man opened fire inside a SunTrust bank in Sebring on Wednesday afternoon, prompting a stand-off, authorities said.
Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said the victims were “senselessly murdered” by Zephen Xaver, 21, who surrendered after a Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Swat team entered the bank.
“Today’s been a tragic day in our community,” Hoglund said. “We’ve suffered a significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime.”
Officials have not publicly identified the victims.
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Law enforcement officials said Highlands deputies and Sebring police responded to US Highway 27 at about 12.30pm after Xaver called 911 himself and told a dispatcher he had fired shots inside the bank.
Police and deputies established a perimeter but were unable to get the gunman to surrender by negotiating, authorities said.
A sheriff’s office Swat team later entered the bank and Xaver eventually surrendered, the agency said. Investigators discovered the bodies of five victims after retaking the bank, officials said.