(CNN) — A man who barricaded himself in a SunTrust Bank in Florida killed at least five people in the branch on Wednesday, Sebring Police Chief Karl Hoglund said.
The suspect called police to say he had entered the bank in Sebring, about 85 miles south of Orlando, and began shooting, according to Hoglund. Investigators identified the suspect as Zephen Xaver, 21, of Sebring, who is in custody.
“We’ve suffered significant loss at the hands of a senseless criminal doing a senseless crime,” Hoglund said.
It wasn’t immediately clear if those shot were bank employees or customers. The victims have not yet been identified and family notifications have not yet been made.
“This is a terrible day for Sebring, Highlands County and for the state of Florida,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said.
‘I have shot five people’
The incident began with the phone call to police from the suspect shortly after 12:30 p.m.
“I have shot five people,” the caller said, according to Sebring Police. Sebring Police and Highlands County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the scene.
Initial negotiations to try to get the barricaded suspect to leave the bank were not successful, so a SWAT team entered the bank and continued negotiations.
The suspect eventually surrendered to the SWAT team at the bank along US-27, between Lake Jackson and Little Lake Jackson, police said.
The FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are assisting in the case. Authorities are still investigating the motive.
Suspect’s father says he is heartbroken for the victims
“I’m heartbroken for my son,” said Josh Xaver. Josh is from Indiana and said he is Zephen Xaver’s father. “I’m heartbroken for the victims,” he said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
The elder Xaver said his son moved to Florida about a year ago.
“He wasn’t raised to be like this. He’s always been a good kid. He’s had his troubles,” he said without elaborating, “but he has never hurt anyone ever before.”
“This is a total shock,” he said.
Suspect worked as a correctional officer trainee for two months
Zephen Xaver was employed as a correctional officer trainee at Avon Park Correctional Institution and resigned two weeks ago, according to Patrick Manderfield, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Corrections.
He was hired by the facility on November 2 and resigned on January 9, Manderfield said.
SunTrust Chairman and CEO Bill Rogers said the company is “deeply saddened by the tragic shooting” at the branch.
“We are working with officials and dedicating ourselves to fully addressing the needs of all the individuals and families involved. Our entire team mourns this terrible loss,” Rogers said in the statement.
Sebring in in Highlands County in the south-central part of the state, and had a population of just over 10,000 as of the 2010 US Census.
“We ask that you please keep them in your prayers, keep them in your thoughts,” Hoglund said of the victims. “Help Sebring and our community stay strong.”
Ties to Indiana
A Facebook page created by a person named Zephen Xaver, with the most recent post coming from April 12, 2015, indicates that he is originally from Plymouth but lived in Bremen at the time.
Leaders in Marshall County say Xaver attended Plymouth High School.
His ex-girlfriend, Alex Gerlach, told WSBT he often talked about wanting to hurt people. She said he showed her a picture of a handgun but she says she never thought anything of it.
She says she tried warning people in the past, but no one believed her.
WNDU reports classmates said he was a quiet kid who struggled with friends. A mother of one of his close friends he played football with said he struggled with depression and never had a good self image.
(PHOTO: WFTS)
