Marine Veteran John Fraley Stops Citibank Campus Shooter

John Fraley, a security officer and Marine veteran, was identified on Thursday as the employee who stopped an active shooter at a Citibank Center campus in Brandon, Florida. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister stated that Fraley confronted the gunman inside the facility after the suspect had killed a female employee. Chronister noted that Fraley was authorized to carry a firearm on duty due to his military background and specific training.

The incident began around 9 a.m. on Wednesday when 35-year-old Jacob Pearson called an attorney’s office handling collections for Citibank. Pearson allegedly made violent threats regarding a $2,500 delinquent debt before driving from his Orlando home to the Brandon campus. Citibank’s head of security, a retired Secret Service agent, assessed the threat level based on the phone call and requested a welfare check from Orlando Police and a presence from Hillsborough County deputies.

Despite these precautions, Pearson crashed his sedan through a gate into a courtyard where employees were gathered. He exited the vehicle with an AR-15 rifle and shot 41-year-old learning advisor LeAnne Selmon three times. As the rifle malfunctioned, Pearson returned to his car to retrieve a handgun. He then walked back to Selmon, who was attempting to crawl away, and fired again.

Sheriff Chronister said Pearson entered a cafeteria to search for more victims. He encountered Fraley, who chose to take a tactical position inside a men’s restroom rather than retreat. Chronister emphasized that Fraley placed his own safety at risk to prevent the shooter from harming additional people. The officer opened fire and struck Pearson five times.

Pearson, who was married with a seven-year-old child, was transported to Tampa General Hospital. He later died from his injuries. Chronister described Fraley’s actions as heroic, stating that the officer ended the suspect's attack before it could spread further across the campus.